Here are the answers to Matt Chittum's pop quiz on the Oct. 2 vice-presidential debate, taken from the interactive word clouds of the text of the candidates' debate remarks.
1) Who mentioned the name "McCain" more often?
Biden, 59 times compared to 38 by Palin.
2) Did Biden mention "John McCain" or "Barack Obama" more often?
John McCain. 57 times to 38 times for his own running mate's name.
3) Which candidate used the words "maverick" or "mavericks" more often?
Biden, 9 times compared to 6 for Palin. Palin used the words in scattered instances in reference to herself and McCain. Biden used it all 9 times in a single response in which he attempted to undermine McCain's maverick status.
4) Which candidate invoked "God" more frequently?
Biden, 5 times to Palin's 2.
5) How many times did Palin mention "hockey moms?"
Once.
6) How many times was "Alaska" mentioned?
Nine times, 7 by Palin, and 2 by Biden.
7) Which word or phrase was mentioned more frequently, "bridge to nowhere" or "lipstick?"
"Bridge to nowhere" was mentioned once, by Biden. No one brought up "lipstick."
