The State Street bar was filled with people watching the debate while sitting at the edge of pool tables that made it difficult for cocktail waitresses to take orders.

Throughout the debate, the group played "Palin bingo," marking off squares when the governor recited keywords and catch phrases such as "maverick" and "hockey mom."

The crowd cheered Biden's responses but still had some praise for Palin's performance — at least compared to her interview with Katie Couric, they said.

"The Republicans tossed her in the deep end, and she's dog paddling as fast as she can," said June Taylor, a Delaware transplant who said she voted for Biden during his first Senate run. "But the idea that she could be one cancer cell away from the presidency is terrifying."

While most at the bar went after Palin, they praised Biden for not doing the same.

"He's going after McCain," said Jeremiah Roth, one of the event's organizers. Attacking Palin would have allowed pundits to paint Biden as "sexist" and "a bully," Roth said.

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