Governor Sarah Palin and Senator Joe Biden participated in a televised vice presidential candidates debate at Washington University in St. Louis. Gwen Ifill moderated the debate which focused on several issues including the current economic and financial crisis, foreign policy, and the role of the vice president.

The debate was presented in a split-screen format provided by the network pool showing candidates as they spoke and reactions to opponents' remarks. Summaries of the questions posed by the moderator were also shown in the lower third of the screen.