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Despite Lack of Local Issues, Kentucky Officials Pleased With VP Debate

Even though the candidates for vice president met at Centre College in Danville for their debate Thursday night, Kentucky issues such as coal and the auto industry weren’t heavily addressed.Kentucky is affected by many of the national issues that were discussed, but Vice President Joe Biden and Congressman Paul Ryan had little to say on topics specific to the commonwealth, such as coal and the auto industry.“I did think that the only person who did talk about energy policy was Congressman Ryan as part of his five point plan.as far as making us energy independent as far as North American and putting a goal and obviously coal has to be involved," says Senate President David Williams.And Attorney General Jack Conway says he believes the state’s auto workers were glad to hear Vice President Joe Biden defend the bailout of the auto industry, even if it wasn't a major talking point.“There are some Kentuckians here that are very happy about the auto industry coming back," says Conway. "And I think Joe Biden was feisty tonight, a lot of Democrats wanted to see that and I think he scored a lot of punches based on substance.”Many Democrats were hoping the debate could soothe some of the sting of President Obama's lackluster performance in his first matchup against Mitt Romney last week. Democratic Congressman John Yarmuth says Biden gave the base a boost of confidence, but Mr. Obama’s style will have to be different."I think he has to be, not necessarily more aggressive, I think he has to be just more forceful. He has to say 'Here's what we're going to do. Here's what I want to do, where I want to take the country. And if Mitch McConnell tries to stop me, and if John Boehner tries to stop me, I'm going to keep on trying to do it and I'm going to go the American people, because this is more important,'" says Yarmuth.Initial poll numbers show that many viewers believed Ryan won the debate while many pundits said Biden was victorious. President Obama and Governor Romney will meet again on Tuesday at Hofstra University in Hempstead, New York.