I think her pageant days served her well, in that she could give canned, well-rehearsed answers to anticipated questions. She'd wait to hear the topic and quickly (sometimes almost frantically) scan her notes to remind herself of the key talking points she needed to make. If the topic was one she wasn't confident about, she'd just change the topic to one she had prepared for and get all folksy. I think the key to her debate style was practice, practice, practice. I still don't think she has a firm grasp of the issues...I think she was well-trained.

Maureen