The two main party vice-presidential candidates squared off last night in St. Louis in their first and only debate. Senator Joe Biden and Governor Sarah Palin disagreed over tax policy and the occupation of Iraq but found common ground over confronting Iran, supporting the Israeli government and opposing gay marriage. Palin touted both herself and Senator John McCain as mavericks willing to take on powerful interests.

Gov. Sarah Palin: “We’re tired of the old politics as usual. And that’s why, with all due respect, I do respect your years in the US Senate, but I think Americans are craving something new and different and that new energy and that new commitment that’s going to come with reform. I think that’s why we need to send the maverick from the Senate and put him in the White House, and I’m happy to join him there.”

Biden disputed Palin’s characterization of McCain as a “maverick.”

Sen. Joe Biden: “Let’s talk about the maverick John McCain is. And again, I love him. He’s been a maverick on some issues, but he has been no maverick on the things that matter to people’s lives. He voted four-out-of-five times for George Bush’s budget, which put us a half-a-trillion dollars in debt this year and over $3 trillion in debt since he’s got there. He has not been a maverick in providing healthcare for people. He has voted against — he voted against including another 3.6 million children in coverage of the existing healthcare plan, when he voted in the United States Senate. He’s not been a maverick when it comes to education. He has not supported tax cuts and significant changes for people being able to send their kids to college. He’s not been a maverick on the war. He’s not been a maverick on virtually anything that genuinely affects the things that people really talk about around their kitchen table.”