Two good things Ryan did:
(1) He was unfailingly tolerant of someone who came across as a dotty, boorish, slightly crazy older relative Thanksgiving Dinner Guest from one's wife's side of the family, of course.
(2) He was factual, calm, and established himself as genuine, sincere, and experienced. If voters were a rational lot, of course they would rather have this Ryan fellow a heartbeat away from the office than Old Joe.
The moderatrix was a Leftist whore. In all though, nowhere near the convincing smackdown of Obama by Mitt. Maybe that's a good thing. Joey Plugs came out crazy and that had to be a challenge for a rational creature to deal with. If it makes any difference, I hope enough non-Freeper types noticed.
Post-debate Ping
Regarding the moderator, I always wonder why the feckless pubbies allow the oppointment of such leftist sludge to stage these 'debates'.