SOUTH BEND — It was a historic night that gave Americans their closest look yet at the vice presidential ticket. Now, the next debate begins over who won.

Democrat Joe Biden and Republican Sarah Palin faced off in one of the most talked about vice presidential debates ever. The two shook hands, then came out swinging, starting with the economy.

Biden criticized Bush administration policies, saying Wall Street has run wild during eight years of Republican rule.

Palin said McCain would put partisanship aside to help solve the nation's crisis.

They also sparred on energy, environmental issues and the war in Iraq during the 90-minute debate at Washington University in St.
Louis.

After it was all said and done, a new debate began over who "won" the highly anticipated "VP showdown." But, it was already brewing just moments in for members of Notre Dame's debate team.

All are well versed national experts on what it takes to snare victory during a high pressure, high stakes showdown. But winning their debates is a very different process, they say, from winning a political debate like this one.

"In debate, we have pieces of evidence in front of us-- the actual research we've done. Clearly, the candidates can't show that. So, they really need to come off sounding like they're authoritative in the facts they're presenting," said Notre Dame Debate Team Co-Vice President Michael Lucien.

"In this debate, you definitely looked for more non-verbal cues than you would in a regular policy debate that we would have," agreed Notre Dame Debate Team Co-Vice President Stephen Meehan.

As the candidates took the stage for the latest historic moment in a campaign already filled with firsts, the ticket's "number two's" for one night were the number one draw.

"I think it's a crucial moment for America tonight," said veteran South Bend Tribune political columnist Jack Colwell. "This could have a big impact on the outcome of the election."

So, what would it take to win?

As the speech began, Notre Dame's "expert orators" had their suspicions.

"They both need to come out swinging," said Lucien. "While there is definitely a lot of room for [Palin] to gain, [Biden] can really solidify the Democratic lead a lot of polls are giving him."

"Sarah Palin has shown she knows what the typical American wants. She knows how to buy diapers and gas, and make that connection with mainstream America. Now, she needs to score those points on the issues," said Notre Dame Debate Team President Melissa Curvino.

"I think if she keeps it close and doesn't really make a big mistake, she's going to win a lot of confidence in the public eye," agreed Meehan. "For Joe Biden to win, he needs to look really exceptional and superior to her."

But, did either candidate do that?

"They both did well from a public speaking standpoint," said Notre Dame Debate Team Faculty Sponsor and Film and Television Professor Susan Ohmer. "Nobody's falling on his or her face. So, I think they're going to look at the polls and see what happens."

And Colwell says that's no accident.

Each candidate had different "must accomplish" goals during the debate.

For Palin, who-- most experts agreed had more to prove-- the top issue was answering to critics who say her lack of foreign policy experience makes her a liability.

If she didn't accomplish that goal in the minds of American voters?

"It'll be a hurdle that I don't think she can overcome, and she will hurt instead of help John McCain," he said.

For Biden, Colwell says issue number one was hammering the opposite message home, without hammering at Palin.

"If he came on too strong, he would look like he was a bully and be criticized for that," Colwell said.

In the end, most of the crowd of more than 100 watching the debate at Notre Dame agreed both candidates had accomplished their goals, at least partially.

Colwell says that could mean a bounce in the polls for either one.

"How much? Maybe one percent. But, that could decide the election," he said.

But exactly who benefits remains to be seen; the subject of a whole new debate already underway across the nation.