Biden’s Body Language, Facial Mugging, Inappropriate Smiling, Pointing, and Interrupting During VP Debate

Once again my analysis of the vice presidential candidates is not a political assessment. It is merely an analysis of the candidates body language, communication, and speech patterns.

Both candidates did the “Power Greeting” where they both clasped one another’s arms as they shook hands. Both candidates were well spoken, dynamic and passionate in their delivery.

There was no question that Ryan was up against a very formidable opponent and he knew it.  Debating with Biden  often left him dry mouthed as he took seven sips of water throughout  the debate .

There were also  several  occasions where you could see him visibly swallowing which also indicated dry mouth due to anxiety and tension.

You could also see him visibly breathing and oxygentating himself as he listened to Biden. But all in all he did extremely well  against his well spoken sonorous voiced opponent- Vice President Biden.

He clearly held  his own.  With the exception of taking notes at the beginning when  Biden spoke, most of the time Ryan looked directly at Biden when the Vice President spoke.

Ryan  even interjected some humor when Biden said “Bunch of stuff” and  said  about Biden” He’s Irish.” He also added  humor when he said to Biden that we all know that  “the words don’t come out of your mouth the right way” as Biden found this humorous as well.

He was passionate in his delivery, especially at the end of his speech and clearly got points for looking directly into the camera and speaking directly to the public,

unlike Biden, who looked down and peppered his speech with a lot of  “uh’s and um’s.  

While Biden was well spoken he was not very gentlemanly in terms of his debating behavior with constant interruptions,

inappropriate smiles while his opponent was speaking,

laughing,  looking down  and facial mugging. It was distracting and disconcerting and  did not put him in the best light. In fact it made him appear, smug, arrogant, and condescending. What added to the impression of  appearing condescending was when he kept referring to his opponent as “my friend.”

While pointing is a genuine  gesture when expressing a point which you are passionate about when someone is constantly pointing as Biden was, it displayed anger , aggressiveness, and a condescending nature. Biden was vocally aggressive as he spoke louder and often had a staccato cadence.

At some points in the debate it may have been seen as verbal bullying. In fact he appeared testy and aggressive with the moderator as well. The  constant interruptions,  facial mugging when his opponent was speaking , inappropriate smiling, laughing,   constant reference to Ryan as “my friend here” and pointing did not make Biden a winner from a body language and communication  point of view.