Live Blog: Biden and Ryan Square Off in Vice-Presidential Debate

It's rare that a vice presidential debate can swing an election, but following GOP presidential nominee Mitt Romney's drubbing of President Barack Obama in Denver, Democrats are hoping Vice President Joe Biden can get them back on the right track.

Biden takes on the fresh faced GOP VP nominee, Wisconsin Rep. Paul Ryan, in a town hall format contest moderated by ABC News' Martha Raddatz. Biden, a skilled debater from a number of presidential primaries and 2008's match against Sarah Palin, will bring a folksy contrast to the fresh-faced energy of Ryan, a 42-year old fiscal conservative who is seen as the ideological and intellectual leader of his party's congressional faction.

Romney/Ryan have seen a surge in the polls since the former Mass. Governor put in a sterling performance last week; while the Obama campaign has accused him of moderating his positions for a national audience, he was deemed the winner thanks to an aggressive attack, coupled with an unexpected reticence from the president.

Biden is known for playing loose with public speaking rules; he often connects viscerally with an audience, but is prone to making gaffes and silly statements, as well. Ryan is less nationally known as an orator, but gave a full throated attack on Obama/Biden's policies during his RNC speech in August.

Will experience trump youth, or will a new generation's star take hold? Join now The Hollywood Reporter contributing editor Tina Daunt as we live blog this crucial moment in the 2012 Presidential Election. (Additional coverage from The Boston Globe.)

Second use of "my friend" by Biden, using the language of the Senate floor. Then goes: "All this bluster, all this loose talk!"

by Matt Viser via twitter 10/12/2012 1:17:13 AM
Raddatz asks the two to be clear about how effective a military strike would be on Iran.

“We cannot allow Iran to gain nuclear weapons technology,” Ryan says. “They are four years closer to nuclear weapons technology.”

Biden says, “Incredible,” and then laughs twice. He says the country has imposed “the most crippling sanctions in the history of sanctions,” and Romney won’t answer beyond that if he wants to go to war with Iran.

Ryan interjects, “We want to prevent war.” Biden comes back, the administration feels confident it could deal a crippling military blow to Iran, but the country is still “a good way away” from a weapon. “We’ll know if they start the process of building a nuclear weapon,” says Biden.

Ryan says Iran is moving closer to a nuclear weapon, spinning the centrifuges faster. He castigates the administration for projecting weakness by not meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu when both were in New York last month and instead appearing on “The View.”

by Glen Johnson 10/12/2012 1:18:35 AM
“With regard to Bibi, he’s been my friend for 39 years,” Biden says.

by Matt Viser via twitter 10/12/2012 1:19:21 AM
FACT CHECK: Nuclear Iran and Benjamin Netanyahu: As background, Netanyahu said in July that sanctions have "so far have not set back the Iranian program by one iota."

by Callum Borchers, Globe... 10/12/2012 1:20:18 AM
"This is a bunch of stuff!" Biden says. "What does that mean, stuff?" Raddatz says. "Malarkey," Biden says.

by Matt Viser via twitter 10/12/2012 1:20:25 AM
Paul Ryan is THE best youth counselor I've ever seen. #debate

by OfficialKat via twitter 10/12/2012 1:20:29 AM
Biden interjects, “Let me tell you what the ayatollahs see: They see their economy going into the tank.” And he rejects the Netanyahu criticism.

“This is a bunch of stuff,” Biden says, and Raddatz asks him to define that term. Ryan laughs and Biden says, “malarky.”

He adds: “Iran is more isolated today than when we took office. ... I don’t know what world these guys live in.”

Biden says Iran is not four years closer to a nuclear weapon, but four years closer to having fissile material to put in one - “if they had a nuclear weapon.”

by Glen Johnson 10/12/2012 1:21:33 AM
Joe Biden has unleashed more energy in 15 minutes than Obama did in 90.

by Matt Viser via twitter 10/12/2012 1:21:44 AM
Biden should not smile condescendingly when Ryan lies. But he's calm, clear & forceful - more authoritative than Ryan: t.co

by Andrew Sullivan via twitter 10/12/2012 1:22:19 AM
Wow. AMAZING what a personable, well-read, witty, humorous moderator can do for a debate. Can tell she is LISTENING. Go @MarthaRaddatz!

by Brooke Baldwin via twitter 10/12/2012 1:22:56 AM
Do you think Ryan just remembered that Biden used to be chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee?

by tinadaunt 10/12/2012 1:23:06 AM
Biden cites Romney position on Iran sanctions then adds, “He changes his mind so often, I could be wrong.”

by Matt Viser via twitter 10/12/2012 1:23:26 AM
"I don’t know how long it will take," Biden says on economy. "We can and we will get it under 6 percent."

by Matt Viser via twitter 10/12/2012 1:24:05 AM
Biden is laughing at some of Ryan’s assertion on Iran. He is the former chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. Perhaps he feels Ryan should not be lecturing him here, but Ryan is undeterred.

He labels Iran “the world’s largest marketer of terrorism.” Biden retorts, “War should always be the last resort.”

by Glen Johnson 10/12/2012 1:24:15 AM
ANALYSIS: THE ATMOSPHERICS of this debate are much different than the presidential one last week. Last week, the presidential candidates stood at podiums, and the moderator hung back for most of the debate. Tonight, as the debaters sit around a table, Biden smiles derisively at Ryan’s statements and interrupts when he pleases. Ryan forcefully interjects with his points. Moderator Martha Raddatz also feels free to interrupt, just as a moderator of a program such as Meet The Press might feel free to do so. It has the feel of a tough Sunday morning interview program, at which the participants are well practiced.

by Michael Kranish, Globe Staff 10/12/2012 1:24:22 AM
Finally someone mentioned the 47%!

by tinadaunt 10/12/2012 1:24:59 AM
I feel like the words "facts matter" are tattooed on Biden's belly, "thug life"-style. #debate

by Patton Oswalt via twitter 10/12/2012 1:25:05 AM
Ryan is a nervous Walmart manager. Biden is an irate customer with the receipt, the warranty & he's friends w/ the store owner. #debate

by Patton Oswalt via twitter 10/12/2012 1:25:12 AM
This is Ryan's moment. If he doesn't come back here, this thing could go into freefall for him.

by tinadaunt 10/12/2012 1:26:09 AM
Biden is hitting in one answer all the things Obama left out in the entire first 90 minute debate

by Bill Maher via twitter 10/12/2012 1:26:48 AM
"He talks about Detroit," Paul Ryan says. "Mitt Romney’s a car guy."

by Matt Viser via twitter 10/12/2012 1:27:39 AM
Ryan: "This is not what a real recovery looks like."

by tinadaunt 10/12/2012 1:27:40 AM
Biden has nice teeth. I wonder if Obamacare paid for those :)

by Druby edited by Teresa Hanafin, Boston.com 10/12/2012 1:28:07 AM
Biden finds everything funny. Ryan remains even.

by BabsSue 10/12/2012 1:28:38 AM
I have no doubt there are secret sensitive negotiations going on with Iran right now. Their economy is tumbling into shambles.

by Display Name:LawyerCalhoun edited by Teresa Hanafin, Boston.com 10/12/2012 1:29:14 AM
"Mitt is a car guy... I was talking to some people who were in a car crash..." Sounds like a great, um, story... #debate

by JoeyWessels via twitter 10/12/2012 1:29:27 AM
Ryan, of Romney, says: “This is a man who gave 30 percent of his income to charity, more than the two of us combined.”

by Matt Viser via twitter 10/12/2012 1:29:33 AM
Joe is taking this boy to the woodshed.

by Nina1 10/12/2012 1:29:54 AM
Finally, after one entire presidential debate and 23 minutes into this one, "47%" is finally mentioned.

by MMFlint via twitter 10/12/2012 1:29:59 AM
If you've somehow missed Romney's "47 percent" remarks, here's the video:

by Callum Borchers, Globe... 10/12/2012 1:30:07 AM
Will Mitt pay for my three boys to go to college?

by Doktorphil edited by Teresa Hanafin, Boston.com 10/12/2012 1:30:07 AM
Raddatz asks: Can you both say if the country can get below 6 percent and when. Biden says he can’t give a date, but the administration has rescued the country from economic freefall. He complains Romney wanted Detroit to go bankrupt, and that shouldn’t be a surprise from a candidate who writes off 47 percent of the country, or a vice presidential running mate who says 30 percent of the country are “takers.” That is the first time in either debate Romney’s 47-percent comment was raised.

Ryan eagerly awaits his chance to reply. He notes they are both are from small towns - and that the unemployment rate in Biden’s hometown of Scranton, Pa., is now higher than when Obama took office. “This is not what a real recovery looks like,” says Ryan, before ticking off the five-point recovery plan both he and Romney favor.

by Glen Johnson 10/12/2012 1:30:36 AM
"Just get out of the way," Biden says. "Stop talking about how you care about people. Show me something. Show me a policy."

by Matt Viser via twitter 10/12/2012 1:30:55 AM
I can't tell if Ryan's flag pin is bigger or Biden's is far away. But here's what's important: FLAG PINS.

by PFTompkins via twitter 10/12/2012 1:31:20 AM
Biden's smirk and cockiness is going to rub a lot of people the wrong way. If he doesn't start acting presidential he might blow this.

by meandmyownself edited by Teresa Hanafin, Boston.com 10/12/2012 1:31:26 AM
Why does Biden think everything is funny? This is serious ... this is our country!

by smurfy edited by Teresa Hanafin, Boston.com 10/12/2012 1:31:42 AM
When Ryan poked Biden about words not coming out quite right, he's referring to moments like this:

And this:

by Callum Borchers, Globe... 10/12/2012 1:32:02 AM
“I love my friend here!” Biden says.

by Matt Viser via twitter 10/12/2012 1:32:30 AM
Ryan also takes on the criticism of Romney over an op-ed he wrote that was titled, “Let Detroit go bankrupt.” Ryan adds: “Mitt Romney is a car guy. They keep misquoting him.” As for the 47-percent comment, Ryan adds a money line: “I think the vice president understands the words don’t always come out the right way.” Biden says that if that comment was a mistake, “I have a bridge to sell you.”

As for compassion, Biden says he has it, having experienced tragedy “when I was a little bit younger than the congressman” when his wife and daughter were killed in a car crash. He asks Romney and Ryan “just get out of the way” and allow the administration’s policies to pass.

by Glen Johnson 10/12/2012 1:32:42 AM
Stupid of Ryan to walk into personal tragedy trap with Biden. Debate prep?

by frankrichny via twitter 10/12/2012 1:32:49 AM
Biden is a dope. He's misinformed and is laughing and being so disrespectful. Taking Ryan to the woodshed? Get a grip.

by aBaystater 10/12/2012 1:32:54 AM
Why does the moderator allow Biden to interrupt Ryan?

by BabsSue 10/12/2012 1:33:02 AM
A refresher on what Biden is accusing Ryan of on stimulus spending, via @GlobeBender: b.globe.com

by Matt Viser via twitter 10/12/2012 1:33:18 AM
Ryan used a car crash anecdote with Biden? He just served Biden the perfect set up for the most gripping story of his life.

by tinadaunt 10/12/2012 1:34:21 AM
"By the way, any letters you send me I’ll entertain," Biden says. "I appreciate that, Joe," Ryan responds.

by Matt Viser via twitter 10/12/2012 1:34:23 AM