There came a point in Thursday's vice presidential debate when Mary Schneider, the Sacramento branch chairwoman of the American Association of University Women, found herself incredibly relieved.

It was when Delaware Sen. Joe Biden, not Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, was the candidate who came near tears.

"I thought to myself, 'I'm glad it wasn't Sarah Palin. People would have crucified her if she cried," Schneider said after Biden choked up in describing how he held to hope that his two sons would survive after an auto accident that killed his wife and daughter.

The discussion over gender roles was just one topic at a Sacramento debate-watching gathering Thursday sponsored by the AAUW. Three women – a Democrat, a Republican and an independent voter – showed up to watch the only vice presidential debate.

Palin and Biden argued for John McCain and Barack Obama and over who has the best remedies for America in this time of war and economic uncertainty. Their Sacramento audience debated whether Palin, the first woman ever named to a Republican presidential ticket, was fresh and funny or came off as a "beauty queen."

Palin both impressed and troubled Lisa Beauchamp as she hailed the McCain energy policy with the slogan "drill, baby, drill," and went after Obama for planning "a white flag of surrender" in Iraq.

"She looked as much like a vice president as any politician I've ever seen," Beauchamp said.

"She answered the questions with as much information as I expected. She didn't grasp for ideas or thoughts. She kept her pace."

Beauchamp, an undecided independent voter who says she comes from "a conservative, traditional family," said she also was impressed with the "professionalism and courtesy" Biden exhibited.

Ultimately, she said, Palin swayed her toward McCain on energy but scared her toward Obama on the war.

Beauchamp, a Sacramento communications specialist, recalled her worries when her military brother served in Desert Storm. She said Palin's comments only reinforced her belief that the United States should draw down its forces without leaving Iraq "in shambles."

Given the seriousness of the issues, Schneider, a Republican who favors Obama, said she appreciated the fact that Palin "spoke from her heart."

Schneider said Biden was "obviously a concrete sequential thinker" because – until late in the debate – he spoke in detailed arguments betraying little personal emotion.

The retired teacher found Palin to be a "classic random romantic" because McCain's running mate sought to connect throughout the debate on a personal level.

Yet Schneider said she was not always happy with the folksy approach taken by the former Alaska mayor who offered a shout-out to a third-grade class and declared: "I think we need a bit of reality from 'Wasilla Main Street' brought to Washington."

Palin was a hit with Democrat Lois Graham when she described "the fear in the parents' voices" at youth soccer games over the American economy and offered frequent "you betchas" and "darn rights" to make her point. Graham thought Palin's "drill, baby drill" comment was "a cutesy moment."

"Oh, she's funny. I don't care what they say!" Graham remarked.

Graham, a preschool and kindergarten principal, said Palin showed a sensitivity for education and improving student achievement.

She said Biden – who has been known to make a gaffe or two – "was direct and knew what he wanted to say" throughout the debate.

Graham said the debate made her appreciate Palin and where she was coming from – but didn't sway her toward the McCain-Palin ticket.

"I like her. I think she will help her candidate with some people," Graham said.

"But she is still a beauty queen. She still plays off of that."

Call Peter Hecht, Bee Capitol Bureau, (916) 326-5539.