The debate over the vice-presidential candidates didn't stop in St. Louis. Plenty of places around the Lynchburg-area hosted debate-watching parties.

Locals say Sarah Palin was really the under the microscope Thursday night.

And after listening to her responses, many still question her ability to serve as vice-president.

People we talked to are concerned about her knowledge of foreign policy and the economic crisis. More than 50 students from across Lynchburg gathered at Randolph College (web) tonight to watch the debate.

The Starlight Cafe had an equally large crowd. Women at the hair salon even tuned in.

People say Palin's responses seemed a little too canned.

Edwina Taylor, Thinks Palin Is Unstable - "It seems like she doesn't know what she's talking about, like she doesn't know what she's doing. But she's doing better than I thought she'd do."

Skylyn Hagins, Thinks Biden Is Better VP - "Joe Biden is very calm, pretty much knows what he's talking about, and speaking more like a chiseled veteran."

And why all the fascination with the vice presidential debate? The local debate expert says it's because Palin has become somewhat of a celebrity.

Mike Hall, Director of Debate, Liberty University (web) - "I think a lot of people are interested in the 'hockey mom' element of her story, kind of rising from the PTA. There's certainly a lot of admire about that, so I think people are really taken with her narrative."

Hall says all the media exposure prior to the debate really built a lot of the suspense going into Thursday night.