Skip to main content
The Latest /
Far-right Extremism

Palin and Falwell Share a Debate Coach

In her recent interview with Katie Couric, Sarah Palin was asked about her preparations for her upcoming debate, which led to this exchange:

Couric: I know you're heading to Sedona to work on your debate. What is your coach advising you? I know everyone has debate coaches.

Palin: I don't have a debate coach.

That must comes as a surprise to Brett O'Donnell:

Amid the heavy scrutiny in a close campaign, Gov. Palin is under considerable pressure to make Thursday's debate a "game changer," advisers said. The campaign is sending in Sen. McCain's debate coach, Brett O'Donnell, to help with her preparation, advisers said. Though he always was expected to help out after Sen. McCain's debate Friday in Oxford, Miss., Mr. O'Donnell now needs to "undo" much of her previous debate prep, which has resulted in occasional "rote" responses, one adviser said.

And because the McCain campaign can't seem to do anything without involving the Religious Right these days, it comes as no surprise that O'Donnell just so happens to be the former Director of Debate, and is currently a Guest Lecturer, at Jerry Falwell's Liberty University.