Ryan's prep as meticulous as he is

Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney and New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie talk with supporters at Buns Bakery and Restaurant in Delaware, Ohio, on Wednesday, October 10. Romney is campaigning in Ohio with less than a month to go before the general election. New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, left, and Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney walk up to the stage at Ariel Corporation in Mount Vernon, Ohio, on Wednesday. Centre College students Ben Boone, left, a stand-in for U.S. Vice President Joe Biden, and Tommy Munoz, a stand-in for Republican Vice Presidential candidate Paul Ryan, wave during a rehearsal for the vice presidential debate in Danville, Kentucky, on Wednesday. Members of the media watch as President Barack Obama arrives aboard Marine One on the South Lawn of the White House on Tuesday, October 9, in Washington. The president was returning from a two-day campaign trip to California and Ohio. President Barack Obama addresses supporters during a campaign event at The Ohio State University on Tuesday. Two Obama supporters, one holding a Big Bird book and the other clutching a picture of the president, listen while he speaks at a rally at Ohio State on Tuesday. Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney departs a Wendy's restaurant with his dinner order in Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio, on Tuesday. Supporters cheer as Romney delivers remarks on the James Koch Farm in Van Meter, Iowa, on Tuesday. Allan Banojakedjian, left, and Jesus Romero fill out their voter registration forms at the Miami-Dade Elections Department on the final day of registration for the upcoming presidential election. Rain doesn't keep Romney from campaigning in Newport News, Virginia, on Monday, October 8. Obama holds a campaign event Monday at the Bill Graham Civic Auditorium in San Francisco. Obama takes the stage at a campaign concert at the Nokia Theatre in Los Angeles on Sunday, October 7. The president has been on a three-day trip to California and Ohio. Air Force One leaves a shadow as it passes over the Forum on approach to Los Angeles International Airport on Sunday. Obama leaves the White House on Sunday to board Air Force One. Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney and his wife, Ann, greet workers at the Tin Fish restaurant following a rally Sunday in Port St. Lucie, Florida. Romney casts a shadow on a banner as he speaks during a campaign event in Apopka, Florida, on Saturday, October 6. A supporter holds a photograph of Romney in Apopka on Saturday. Jon Bon Jovi performs at an Obama for America event at the House of Blues in Las Vegas on Saturday. It was the last day people in Nevada could register to vote in the upcoming presidential election. Romney speaks during a campaign event in St. Petersburg, Florida, on Friday, October 5. Romney supporters listen during Friday's campaign event in St. Petersburg. Obama smiles as he speaks during a campaign rally in Fairfax, Virginia on Friday. Obama is assisted with putting on a raincoat onstage during a campaign rally at Cleveland State University on Friday. Romney speaks in Fishersville, Virginia, as Secret Service members keep guard on Thursday, October 4. A day after the first presidential debate in Denver, Romney headed to Virginia to continue campaigning. Romney supporters bow their heads in prayer during Thursday's event at the Augusta Expoland in Fishersville, Viriginia. Obama addresses the crowd at the University of Wisconsin in Madison on Thursday. Romney greets police officers before boarding his campaign plane in Denver on Thursday. Obama speaks at a campaign rally in Denver on Thursday. He accused his Republican challenger of dishonesty over tax policy and other issues brought up in Wednesday night's presidential debate. Audience members cheer as Obama makes his way onto the stage at Sloan's Lake Park in Denver on Thursday. Reporters watch the final minutes of the debate between Romney and Obama in Denver on Wednesday, October 3. The first of four debates for the 2012 election -- three presidential and one vice-presidential -- was moderated by Jim Lehrer of PBS. A member of the U.S. Secret Service keeps watch from the top of a building as Obama takes part in a debate walk-through at the University of Denver on Wednesday. A seat is assigned to first lady Michelle Obama prior to Wednesday's debate. Obama stands at the podium as he speaks during the debate on Wednesday. Michelle and Barack Obama, left, join Mitt Romney and his family at the conclusion of the first presidential debate. University of Denver student Sam Garry sits at the moderator's desk before a presidential debate dress rehearsal at the University of Denver on Tuesday, October 2. Volunteers sit in for on-air television reporters on Tuesday in preparation for the first presidential debate in the Ritchie Center at the University of Denver. Romney greets a father and his daughter after having lunch Tuesday at a restaurant in Denver. Obama stares at the Hoover Dam in Nevada during a visit Tuesday. Romney boards his campaign plane in Bedford, Massachusetts, on Monday, October 1. The Republican candidate was heading to Denver for the first presidential debate on Wednesday. Obama hugs Chasstiry Vazquez after she indroduced him at a campaign event at Desert Pines High School in Las Vegas on Sunday, September 30. Obama supporters cheer during Sunday's event in Las Vegas. Romney leaves his campaign headquarters in Boston on Sunday. A boy reaches out to shake hands with Obama on Sunday in Las Vegas. The president was in Nevada ahead of Wednesday's presidential debate in Denver. Romney arrives at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Belmont to attend Sunday services. Obama talks on the phone with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel in the Oval Office on Friday, September 28. Romney speaks during a rally at Valley Forge Military Academy and College in Pennsylvania on Friday. Romney talks to journalists aboard his campaign plane about his phone call with Netanyahu on Friday. Cadets listen to Romney speak at a campaign rally Friday at the Valley Forge Military Academy and College in Wayne, Pennsylvania. Romney addresses Friday's rally at the Valley Forge Military Academy and College. Vice President Joe Biden hugs U.S. Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, chairwoman of the Democratic National Committee, as he arrives for a campaign event Friday in Boca Raton, Florida. Romney speaks at a Veterans for Romney campaign event in Springfield, Virginia, on Thursday, September 27. Obama supporters cheer at a campaign rally Thursday in Virginia Beach, Virginia. Veterans at the American Legion Post 176 pray before Romney speaks Thursday in Springfield. People listen to Obama speak at the Farm Bureau Live arena in Virginia Beach on Thursday. Obama delivers remarks Thursday in Virginia Beach. Supporters cheer as Romney speaks at SeaGate Convention Centre in Toledo, Ohio, on Wednesday, September 26. Romney speaks during a roundtable discussion on manufacturing at American Spring Wire in Bedford Heights, Ohio, on Wednesday. Supporters wait to see Obama on Wednesday at Toledo Express Airport in Bowling Green, Ohio. Air For One aborted an initial landing attempt in Ohio due to weather conditions. Obama addresses supporters at Bowling Green State University on Wednesday. Romney delivers remarks during a campaign rally Wednesday at Westerville South High School in Westerville, Ohio. Former President Bill Clinton introduces Obama during the Clinton Global Initiative annual meeting in New York on Tuesday, September 25. Supporters cheer during a Republican campaign rally Tuesday with Romney and his running mate, Paul Ryan, at Dayton International Airport in Vandalia, Ohio. Ryan speaks Tuesday in Vandalia as Sen. Rand Paul, from left, Sen. Rob Portman and Romney listen. Former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush hugs a waitress as they wait for Ryan's arrival during a campaign stop at a restaurant in Miami's Little Havana neighborhood on Saturday, September 22. Supporters cheer as they listen to Romney speak during a Juntos Con Romney Rally at the Darwin Fuchs Pavilion on Wednesday, September 19, in Miami. Romney shakes hands with supporters during the Juntos Con Romney Rally in Miami on Wednesday. Obama and David Letterman speak during a break in the taping of the "Late Show with David Letterman" on Tuesday, September 18, at the Ed Sullivan Theater in New York. A crew member opens the door to Air Force One after the jet arrived at John F. Kennedy Airport in New York on Tuesday. From left to right: Romney, his wife Ann, and son Tagg watch one of Tagg's sons play soccer in Belmont, Massachusetts, on Saturday, September 15. Ryan arrives onstage to address the Family Research Council Action Values Voter Summit on Friday, September 14. Supporters wait for Romney to speak at a campaign rally at Lake Erie College in Painesville, Ohio, on Friday, September 14. Obama arrives at Andrews Air Force Base in Maryland on Thursday, September 13. Obama returned to Washington after a two-day campaign trip with events in Nevada and Colorado. Supporters cheer as Romney speaks at a campaign rally in Fairfax, Virginia, on Thursday. An Obama supporter attends a rally in Las Vegas on Wednesday, September 12. Obama focused on economic policies during his two days of campaigning in Nevada and Colorado. Former President Bill Clinton speaks in support of Obama during a campaign stop in Miami on Tuesday, September 11. Obama is lifted up by Scott Van Duzer, owner of Big Apple Pizza and Pasta Italian Restaurant, during a visit to the restaurant in Fort Pierce, Florida, on Sunday, September 9. Obama was on a two-day bus tour across the state. President Obama greets supporters during a campaign stop at the Palm Beach County Convention Center in West Palm Beach, Florida, on Sunday. Mitt Romney walks through the garage area during a rain delay before the start of the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Federated Auto Parts 400 at Richmond International Raceway on Saturday, September 8, in Richmond, Virginia. Ann Romney, wife of Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney, waves to the crowd before speaking at a rally in Leesburg, Virginia, on Friday, September 7. Supporters try to stay dry in between rain showers while waiting for President Obama to speak at the University of Iowa on Friday. It was Obama's first day of campaigning after accepting the presidential nomination at the Democratic National Convention in Charlotte, North Carolina. A girl listens to President Obama speak at the University of Iowa on Friday. Vice President Joe Biden, first lady Michelle Obama, President Obama and Biden's wife, Jill, wave after Friday's campaign event at the University of Iowa. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 80 81 Ryan says he prepares for big events like VP debate the same way: intense study One adjustment for GOP running mate is having team help him choose his words Ryan says he knows 'Joe,' his debate opponent, from his time in Congress Brother says meticulous preparation came from lessons from father before he died Washington (CNN) -- Paul Ryan has a constant companion on the campaign trail -- a weighty burden he clearly can't live without. It's an oversized, well-worn brown briefcase that holds about 40 pounds of paperwork that he's been studying nonstop to prepare for his debate with Vice President Joe Biden. Ryan sat down for an exclusive interview with CNN to give some insight into how he is getting ready for his 90-minute face-off. As he held the bulging briefcase in his lap, he told us that this is the way he has gotten ready for moments large and small his whole life: intense study. "I do a lot of reading, that's what I've always done -- briefings and reading," Ryan said. We asked Ryan about what one of his hunting partners told us about how he prepares to go after his prey, usually deer. The friend said that before Ryan goes hunting he washes his clothes in unscented detergent, takes a shower with unscented soap and sprays unscented material on his boots -- all steps that hunters are known to take generally, but Ryan takes it to a completely different level. Discipline Could Serve Ryan Well Advice from Palin? Ryan Says "Sure" Debating Paul Ryan "If you're into archery and bow hunting, that's the way to do it and be successful. I like the strategy of bow hunting and it takes a lot of preparation and I do take it seriously because I am much more successful if I do things properly and prepare the right way," Ryan said. "I have always just believed that if you're going to do something, do it well." How does Ryan's hunting prep mirror his debate prep? "This stage is kind of new for me and I'm taking it very seriously," he replied. "I'm just doing my homework and studying the issues and I'll know he'll come and attack us. The problem he has is he has Barack Obama's record to run on." Will nervous tics fell VP candidates? Talk to anyone who knows Ryan well and they will use one word to describe him more than any other: prepared. Ryan's older brother Tobin has been helping with his political career since he began his first congressional campaign in 1997 at age 27. He said Ryan has a "very heavy hand" in everything he does, and he has always been meticulous. Tobin Ryan laughs at the huge stack of briefing papers Ryan carries around now -- a far cry from the way it was back in 1998 when he helped his brother get ready for his first debate as a candidate for Congress. "I think we had about eight sheets of one-sided paper that listed out issues. I didn't really have to prepare Paul. It's never been an issue. This is a guy who absorbs more in a day than I think is humanly possible," Tobin Ryan said. Steve King has been a close friend and political supporter since Ryan's first congressional run. He said Ryan, who sleeps on a cot in his congressional office in Washington, is known to be up studying briefing papers so late he often falls asleep face-first at his desk. What to expect in the Biden-Ryan debate Pressure on Biden and Ryan in debate What to expect in the Biden-Ryan debate Inside Biden's debate preparations Debate prep partner 'immersed himself into being Joe Biden' Ryan's countless hours of debate prep have consisted not just of reading and studying, but also role-playing with mock debates. Former Massachusetts Lt. Gov. Kerry Healey has been standing in as moderator Martha Raddatz. Ted Olson, the former solicitor general and renowned hard-charging litigator, has been playing the role of Biden. Ryan said Olson has "immersed himself into being Joe Biden." "I've done lots of mock debates with Ted. He's come to Janesville (Wisconsin), we've done debates there. We've done debates in hotels around the country where I am at the time," Ryan said. "We sit around a table, we have a moderator, and he and I debate each other. He (Olson) knows my record, he's studied it, he's studied what we do in Congress, arguments that the president and vice president use to try to win their debates by default." A Republican source familiar with Ryan's prep tells CNN that while Olson has spent a lot of time going over lines and ideas with Ryan on the road, Ryan has also participated in half a dozen or more formal mock debates -- keeping the events to the 90-minute time as if they were the real thing. The source said that for a while Olson would "break character" and dissect an answer with Ryan, but as the debate has gotten closer Olson has stayed in character and continued to pound away at Ryan as if he were Biden. Tobin Ryan, who has been on the campaign trail a lot with his brother, has had a behind-the-scenes look at just how seriously the Ryan team has taken his debate prep. "They carve out 30 minutes here, 45 minutes there, if possible two hours here. And if anyone encroaches on that time, you hear from people that you can't do that. Paul's got to do his reading." As with most vice presidential running mates, Ryan was thrust into the spotlight and given a team of people to work with. Though many of Ryan's traveling campaign staff are those he has known for a long time and is comfortable with, he isn't used to having such a large team helping decide what he says. Tobin Ryan said there are times his brother pushes back and tells his staff he doesn't feel comfortable saying something a certain way. "There are times when he's finally like, 'I just don't speak that way,' " Tobin Ryan said. Did Ryan call Palin for advice on 'Joe'? The only other person to face Biden in a vice presidential debate is Sarah Palin. With all that meticulous debate prep, we asked if Ryan had called Palin for advice. King: VP debate no game changer but could shift momentum "You know, I haven't. I really don't know her. I only met her once and that was about two years ago," Ryan said. Palin famously asked Biden if she could call him Joe at the beginning of their debate. According to Palin aides at the time, she did that because she kept accidentally calling him "O'Biden" during her debate prep. Ryan said he knows Biden pretty well because they served in Congress together for years, and he does call him Joe. "I like Joe personally quite a bit, I just disagree with his policies," said Ryan, who also said he would only call Biden "Joe" if the vice president decides to be "casual." Biden to campaign in Ryan's backyard after debate Meticulous approach comes from teenage tragedy "Life is short, you've got to make the most of it. And so you attack it with all the enthusiasm that you can," Ryan said. "That's just kind of the way I approach life." Seizing the moment is a lesson teenage Ryan learned from tragedy: his father's untimely death at 55. Ryan talks often about being forced to grow up fast to help take care of his mother and ailing grandmother. But Ryan was also playing out the advice his father repeatedly impressed upon him. Tobin Ryan recalls their father, an accomplished attorney also named Paul, telling them to "stretch your mind" and saying "you need to absorb." "Paul grew up in an environment where if you made a comment, you know, our dad would tell us further, 'What do you mean?' Why do you mean that? Are you thinking big enough?' So I have a feeling that Paul, in that sort of discourse, he's latched in to the whole debate process." In high school, after his father died, Ryan dived into his studies and extracurricular activities. He was in 10 clubs; he was class president; he was prom king. He was also voted "biggest brown-noser" his senior year. The ambition that may have won him that moniker stayed with Ryan into his early adulthood. While living and working in Washington as a twenty-something, he sought out high-profile Republicans as bosses and mentors who were like-minded about supply-side economics and espousing what Ryan has called individualism over collectivism. Ryan became extremely close with former Housing Secretary Jack Kemp and former Education Secretary Bill Bennett when he wrote speeches and did research at their think tank, Empower America. When asked what made him think, in his twenties, that he was qualified to go back to Janesville and run for Congress, Ryan said Kemp and Bennett helped give him the confidence, after teaching him about the importance of what he calls the "power of ideas." "What Jack, and Bill Bennett as well, taught me was that the power of ideas is great -- that if you really believe in a cause you can make a difference in this country. I learned at a young age that if you apply yourself, you can actually make a difference." Ryan also cultivated important Republican players back home, like Steve King. King said he chose to back Ryan as the GOP candidate in the open congressional seat in 1998 over other more experienced candidates. "One or two were frankly not happy with me. And one was kind of a close personal friend," recalled King, who said his decision to back Ryan shattered that friendship. But King said he never regretted it, because from "day one" it was clear that Ryan was an "old soul." "He gets it," King said. Ryan also had something others considering a run for Congress in the 1st District of Wisconsin didn't: the Ryan name. His large family has been in the area since the 19th century. His uncle founded Ryan Inc., a highly successful dirt-moving company. Until Ryan's father died, his name was on the law firm that towers over the center of town. Luck of the Irish tie Mitt Romney noted to CNN's Wolf Blitzer that Ryan has never debated in the kind of forum he will be in against Biden, but Ryan has had election year debates as a candidate for Congress. We showed Ryan a photograph of one of his debates against his Democratic opponent during his first campaign, against Democrat Lydia Spotswood. He noticed that he was wearing what he called his "lucky Irish tie," a green one that he wore on most of his election nights during his seven congressional campaigns. Will he wear it during his debate with Biden? "I don't know. I have to see if I can dig it up," he said with a laugh 'I'm not intimidated' In that first congressional campaign, Spotswood was 47 years old. She was quoted then as saying she was old enough to be Ryan's mother. Biden, 69, also is a generation older than Ryan, 42. Not to mention, as Ryan pointed out over and over, Biden has extensive experience debating on a national stage as a vice presidential candidate and presidential candidate during the 2008 Democratic primaries. Is Ryan intimidated? replied Ryan, "I'm actually excited about it. I came to Congress when I was 28 years old. I'm used to debating people who are older," he said, though he also noted that one of the reasons his team chose Ted Olson to play the role of Biden in mock debates is because he is "about Joe's age." CNN's Deirdre Walsh and Melissa Dunst contributed to this report

School: 200,000 students' data breached

College has about 17,000 students The computer breach involved files that contained Social Security numbers, other data School's president reported he was identity theft victim (CNN) -- Authorities are investigating a computer breach at a Florida college that involves data on more than 200,000 students across the state as well as some of the university's top employees, the school announced Wednesday. Northwest Florida State College said in a news release the breach of the schools computer system involves student data for 76,000 current and former students as well as 200,000 people eligible for the state's Bright Futures scholarship program from 2005 to 2007. More than 3,000 employee records were also accessed. The school said about 50 employees, including the college's president, had reported issues with identity theft. The school, which has about 17,000 students, said Social Security data was in the information that was accessed. The data breach occurred between May 21 and September 24, the school said. The main branch of the school is in Niceville, Florida. It has six other campuses, including one at Eglin Air Force Base. CNN's Joe Sutton contributed to this report.

Opinion: Make school safe for girls

In the peaceful province of Bamiyan, Afghanistan, girls attend school without fear, unlike in Taliban-heavy areas. Jennifer Buffett: Girls everywhere want to go to school to get a better future Buffett: Sadly, pursuing an education can be dangerous as girls encounter violence She says on the first United Nations International Day, make girls' safety a priority Buffett: We can do our part to help girls by making sure schools are harmless places Editor's note: Jennifer Buffett is the president of NoVo Foundation, an organization that seeks to empower girls and women worldwide and to end the violence and exploitation against them. (CNN) -- Tuesday was a tragic day for girls everywhere. In Pakistan, 14-year-old Malala Yousufzai was shot by the Taliban on her way home from school on a bus. Although she was targeted specifically because she spoke out against the Taliban's suppression of women's education rights, her story serves as a reminder of the obstacles that girls face in trying to obtain schooling. In all my travels, from Liberia and the Democratic Republic of Congo to villages and towns across rural India, I have been struck by the unwavering commitment of every girl to do one simple thing: Go to school. Just like Malala, the girls I met know that education is their ticket to a better future: for themselves, their families and their entire communities. Girls would beg their parents to let them stay one more year in school, struggling to juggle their household chores with caring for their younger siblings, all so they can squeeze in one more day in the classroom. Unfortunately, girls around the world have also shared with me how pursuing an education can be dangerous, whether it's because of harassment and violence from teachers or the dangers they encounter as they walk to school. Opinion: Girl's courage, Taliban's cowardice Today, as we celebrate the first United Nations International Day of the Girl by marking the progress that has been made for girls, we should keep in mind that we need to redouble our effort to create a future in which all girls can safely receive an education and reach their full potential. Malala in 2011: My people need me Taliban gunmen shot teen activist Violence keeps girls out of school. Globally, nearly half of all sexual assaults are committed against girls who are 15 and younger. Fear of this type of violence restricts where girls are allowed to go and when they are allowed to be out of the home. Often, parents do not send their daughters to school for this reason. Violence in the home can also hold girls captive and out of school. For instance, nearly half the girls in developing countries are married during their teenage years, with many before age 15. They may experience profound violence at the hands of their often much older husbands. But sadly, school does not equal safety. Even girls who are able to go to school still face violence -- in the classroom, of all places. A girl may walk up to five kilometers between home and school in the company of friends or an older brother to avoid the inevitable harassment by groups of men or boys she passes, only to receive more harassment from a teacher once she finally reaches school. In schools around the world, teachers pressure girls for sex in exchange for grades. In Zambia, for example, more than 2,000 cases of teacher rapes were reported in 2010 alone. Of these cases, only 240 teachers were convicted. While these numbers may be shocking, Zambia is not the only country with this problem. Schools should be a safe haven for girls, but instead, they are too often a place of fear and danger. However, despite the violence that can happen in schools, going to school tends to increase girls' safety outside school. A recent study in Swaziland found that the risk of childhood sexual violence was greatest among those who were not attending school, suggesting that greater educational opportunities decrease vulnerability to violence. Girls in school have an opportunity to escape early marriage and early motherhood, and to gain skills that give them enhanced economic and social opportunities. As part of the global community, we can all do our part to help girls by making school safe and making sure they can get to school. Here are a few ways: -- Invest directly in girls. Less than 2% of every international development dollar goes directly to adolescent girls, let alone toward protecting them from violence. We have made great strides globally in increasing the numbers of girls in primary school, but until we make girls' safety a priority we will not advance our educational goals. -- Ensure schools are accountable to girls by enacting and enforcing policies that prevent sexual abuse and exploitation by teachers. When a 13-year-old girl in Zambia was repeatedly raped by her teacher, the Adolescent Girls Legal Defense Fund supported the girl's court case against the teacher who raped her and the headmaster who knowingly allowed the assaults to occur. In 2008, the High Court of Zambia ruled that the Zambian government is responsible for protecting girls from sexual assault and providing recourse to victims. Schools everywhere must enact systems that protect girls and hold teachers accountable. -- Empower schools and girls through provision of safe spaces. One important outcome of the Zambian teacher rape case has been the wide scale adoption of safe spaces for girls in Zambian schools. -- Recruit, train and retain female teachers. Female teachers can reduce some of the major risks adolescent girls face in school. They can also serve as strong role models and help girls imagine different futures for themselves. The 10x10 Campaign is uniting people and organizations around the critical goal of removing barriers to girls' education. Likewise, so is the Adolescent Girls Legal Defense Fund. You can join them. The benefits of education for girls are undeniable. But until we can ensure that schools are places of learning, rather than places of danger, girls will be held back. When girls are educated—and safe—they, along with our entire societies, will flourish. Follow us on Twitter @CNNOpinion Join us on Facebook/CNNOpinion The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of Jennifer Buffett.

Opinion: Ryan has edge in VP debate

Being younger and less erratic than Vice President Joe Biden gives Rep. Paul Ryan the edge in tonight's debate, says Timothy Stanley. With the race close, Thursday's VP debate matters in a new way, says Timothy Stanley Biden and Ryan embody the differences between the two parties, Stanley says Being younger and less erratic than Biden gives Ryan an edge, he says Stanley: As a rule, Biden does better in front of loud, sympathetic audiences Editor's note: Timothy Stanley is a historian at Oxford University and blogs for Britain's The Daily Telegraph. He is the author of "The Crusader: The Life and Times of Pat Buchanan." (CNN) -- Vice Presidential debates are usually treated as bores or curios. The best you can hope for is a misstep that makes the headlines the next day -- think Dan Quayle comparing himself to Jack Kennedy or Bob Dole lambasting all those "Democrat wars." But the debaters are auditioning to be understudy, so they usually play it safe. Record numbers tuned in to watch Biden vs. Palin in 2008 simply to see if Sarah Palin would go 90 minutes without humiliating herself or her running mate. Apart from some aggressive winking, she performed adequately and disaster was avoided. So two personalities who ought to have made for great TV were actually a little dull. Thursday night's debate will be different, because it matters in a way that previous matchups have not. Mitt Romney's performance in last week's debate seems to have shaken up the polls. That's not just because he did well, but also because the voters appear to be more undecided about the election than we thought they were (just look at the massive attitude shift that Pew reports among female voters). In such an environment, gaffes and good rhetoric count for a great deal. Recall that the debates proved just as important to deciding the Republican primaries, and one of the reasons why Romney won the primaries is that he was so good at the debates. With the country now evenly divided between the two nominees, the race could end up being settled by a few hours of televised sparring. Hence, Biden vs. Ryan is worth tuning in to. Martin: Biden must deliver for Team Obama It also helps that these two men embody the differences between the two parties. Both are Catholics, but from contrasting traditions. Biden comes from the Vatican II generation for whom Catholic piety is centered on social justice and economic fairness. For him, government welfare programs are an extension of Christian charity -- and he's happy to embrace the cultural changes that have altered attitudes about contraception, women and gay rights. Discipline Could Serve Ryan Well What to expect in the Biden-Ryan debate By contrast, Ryan is part of the John Paul II generation of conservative Catholics who have often despaired of the American church's flirtation with liberalism. Ryan has a moral theology that sees government as sapping self-reliance, and abortion as the murder of the unborn. Between the two of them, we have the bifurcation of the Roman Catholic Church personalized: social conscience vs. natural law. That said, it's interesting to note that Ryan has been prepping for this debate with Ted Olson -- the man who pro vided legal assistance to pro-same-sex marriage campaigners. It's surprising that no movement conservatives have made a fuss about the company that Ryan keeps. In this contest between Catholics, who stands the better chance of winning? Paul Ryan, and for three reasons. First, Ryan is younger. In last week's debate, despite being the older man, Romney came across as more youthful and energetic than the president. He looked not only ready to lead, but also more willing. Likewise, Ryan is a handsome, athletic young man who hunts deer with a bow and arrow. Already the star of an internet "Hey Girl" meme, he will reinforce the impression that the GOP ticket is the more virile. Second, Biden is a more erratic performer than Ryan and so more likely to make a blunder. A good drinking game to play during the debate would be to take a shot every time Biden says "literally," another if he mispronounces someone's name, and another if he forgets Paul Ryan's. His tendency toward hyperbole and emotionally charged gaffes is notorious. The flip side of that problem is that if he keeps his natural energy too much in check, then he won't seem like the same old Biden that Democrats know and love. In 2008, he was outperf ormed by Sarah Palin partly because he seemed to be playing the statesman. As a rule, Biden does better in front of loud, sympathetic audiences (see his barnstorming convention speech). Third, the issue momentum is with Romney/Ryan. It's true that Friday's jobs report lowered the unemployment rate and brought some good news to the administration. But it doesn't seem to be reflected in the polls yet. That might be because many Americans don't feel like things are getting better -- because so many are quitting the labor market or getting part-time work. Add to that some of the negative reports about the administration's handling of the Middle East and you get the sense that this week belongs to the Republicans. Opinion: Five ways Obama can bounce back Whoever wins, what is reassuring for fans of politics is the importance that debate has played in this election. With millions of dollars spent on negative ads and the Internet awash with silly stories about dogs on cars and old speeches, it's nice to know that uninterrupted, rational debate spread over just 90 minutes can still make such an impact in contemporary American democracy. Biden vs. Ryan is far from Lincoln vs. Douglas, but the spirit lives on. Follow @CNNOpinion on Twitter Join us at Facebook/CNNOpinion The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of Timothy Stanley.

Martin: Biden must deliver for Obama

Roland Martin suspects that Joe Biden relishes idea of being key to Obama turnaround He says the president's campaign needs a strong Biden performance to boost perceptions Martin says Biden is likely to do better than Obama because he's a natural politician He expects Biden to be folksy, contrasting with Ryan's wonky approach to politics Editor's note: Roland Martin is a syndicated columnist and author of "The First: President Barack Obama's Road to the White House." He is a commentator for the TV One cable network and host/managing editor of its Sunday morning news show, "Washington Watch with Roland Martin." (CNN) -- Don't think Vice President Joe Biden isn't secretly relishing the idea of having to deliver a knockout performance in Thursday's debate in order to right the sails of President Barack Obama's 2012 re-election bid. He has been lampooned as being an embarrassment -- some Democrats, like former Virginia Gov. Doug Wilder, have openly stated he should be replaced on the ticket by Secretary of State Hillary Clinton -- and his 36 years as a U.S. senator are often overlooked and marginalized. The old political adage that a VP pick can only hurt and not help the top of the ticket is wrong. In this case, a strong debate performance by Biden will be welcomed with open arms in Chicago and the White House. One of the reasons why we can expect Biden to be far more effective debating than Obama was is because Biden is a much better politician than President Obama is. He doesn't just tolerate the rope line at campaign stops; he eats it up. Obama despises the incessant schmoozing and back-slapping in politics; Biden is energized by it. Whereas Obama is cool as the other side of the pillow, Biden is always fired up and ready to go. If there ever was any time President Obama needs his vice president to "be the man," now is the time. And Biden loves the fact that the president must depend on him. It's abundantly clear that President Obama stunk up the joint in the first debate against Mitt Romney. He was listless, lackluster and afraid to go on the attack and pin Romney down on specifics and to call out lies. Rep. Paul Ryan, don't think for a second Biden will be as conciliatory and forgiving. Both men will be aggressive and pointed in their criticism of each other. Opinion: Why Ryan has the edge in debate Most folks don't realize that Biden has been an instrumental player in the Obama White House. He has a strong foreign policy background -- he was the chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee when a young upstart from Illinois joined -- and took the White House lead in deficit negotiations with Congress. When Ryan goes in on the Obama team for the deficit, Biden will be able to say he was the one sitting across the table trying to negotiate with House Speaker John Boehner and his troops. But expect Biden not to sound like a four-decade Washington insider. He will drop plenty of mentions of growing up in Scranton, Pennsylvania, as well as use more personal stories about the campaign trail than Obama does. Expect a folksy Biden to a wonky Ryan. Team Obama desperately needs the narrative changed. The polls show Romney got a huge bounce from his debate performance, and the last thing the Obama camp needs is another few days of bad press. Joe Biden could very well be the right guy at the right time to right a leaky Obama ship. Follow @CNNOpinion on Twitter Join us at Facebook/CNNOpinion The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of Roland Martin.