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Conventional WisdomEmily Bazelon and Christopher Beam field questions about Obama's acceptance speech and McCain's veep choice.

Updated Friday, Aug. 29, 2008, at 6:39 PM ET

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New Jersey: I REALLY liked the speech last night. I thought for sure Obama would sideline environmental talk, but he made forceful points about it, and Al Gore got to talk about it at length as well. To me that means Obama's going to resist pandering campaigning.

Emily Bazelon: I'd like to think that talking about the environment is good politics as well as good policy. With gas prices soaring, people are paying attention. Maybe there's an opportunity for the next president to capitalize on real worry about global warming, in addition to leading on this one.

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Dorota, Holmdel: Emily: how do you think a vice-presidential debate look between Biden and Palin, especially when foreign policy is discussed?

Emily Bazelon: Biden will have facts and stories at the tip of his fingers that Palin won't. Of course that should help him. But as a couple of astute chatters have already pointed out, it would be a mistake to count Palin out. We don't know her well enough to know what she's capable of (at least I certainly don't). And overconfidence can backfire, on its own.

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Annapolis, Md.: Doesn't Sen. Biden have a 20-year-old daughter? I'm wondering why she didn't put in an appearance at the Convention. Or did I somehow miss her? I pretty much watched the entire thing. Thanks.

Christopher Beam: I don't know about Biden's daughter, but after this week, I would like to see a debate between Malia Obama and Meghan McCain.

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The Bar: Why should the bar be set lower for someone who has such a statistically high chance of being our President sometime in the next four years?

Emily Bazelon: It shouldn't. But it will be, because people will predict that Biden will wipe the floor with her, and then if he doesn't, that itself becomes a form of victory.

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Portland, Ore.: It seems to me that when Obama is able to present his case to the public he is at his best. When the talking heads blab away to fill the 24 hour news cycle he stumbles. Conversely, McCain sounds great in theory but when you see him talk it is frightening. The only advice I would have for Obama is to keep putting in the face time and prepare for the debates. And also say dishonor when talking about McCain because that seems to be a trigger word that sets off McCain's notorious temper.

Christopher Beam: Tweaking McCain's temper—subtly, I'm sure—is probably going to be a part of the Obama plan. Especially in debates. Dishonor, age, "doesn't get it"—they've gotta stoke the volcano.

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Emily Bazelon: Thanks everyone for the excellent questions. It's great to chew over these campaign ins and outs with you, especially at this heady moment—one convention down and one to go!

Thanks,

Emily and Chris