Sophomores, from left, Sean Quigley, of East Greenwich, Andrew Migneault, of Massachusetts, Anish Mitra, of New York, and Richard Ricken, of New Jersey, watch the Palin-Biden debate being shown at the Salomon Center on the Brown University campus.

The Providence Journal / Ruben W. Perez

PROVIDENCE — They were vastly outnumbered, but four politically conservative students took the front row at Brown University’s Salomon Center auditorium last night to watch the vice presidential debate.

Their applause when they thought Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin scored a point rang feeble compared to the uproar Sen. Joseph Biden won for his comments on health-care reform.

But despite their small numbers, the Republican camp was convinced their candidate was sweeping the debate midway through. “I think Sarah Palin is stronger than ever,” said Anish Mitra, 20, of Long Island, N.Y. “She’s really running the debate.”

She’d scored on energy and had clearly articulated her running-mate Arizona Sen. John McCain’s health-care platform, said Mitra, who pumped his fist in agreement with her positions. Biden, he said, was on the defensive.

And while their Democratic classmates didn’t entirely agree, those interviewed thought Biden hadn’t scored yet. They worried the Delaware senator’s attacks on McCain would alienate voters.

“If the measure of the debate is who exceeds expectations, Biden hasn’t done that yet,” said Dakota Gruener, 18, of Berkeley, Calif.

Many of the 200-plus students in the auditorium, such as Mitra and Gruener, will be voting in their first presidential election next month. They were there to learn more, but most had picked their candidate long before the debate viewing party sponsored by the Janus Forum, student Democrats and Republicans, and Students for Obama.

Gruener believed their age bracket would prove pivotal in the contest. She backed Sen. Hillary Clinton in the Democratic primary, but had come to support Illinois Sen. Barack Obama after gaining a better understanding of his positions, she said.

She watched with Danny Klotz, a 19-year-old sophomore from New York City. “I think everyone recognizes how important this is,” Klotz said.

Indeed, it was the topic of the day on the Ivy League campus by all accounts. One student could even be heard saying “Senator Palin’s hot” on his cell phone as he walked into the hall

Sean Quigley Jr., 20, of East Greenwich, posted commentary throughout the debate at www.brownivy.com, the Web site for Conservatives Blogging about Brown University.

“She’s being very articulate,” said Quigley, who initially backed Ron Paul.

Of Biden, he said, “It seems like he’s swallowing a big pill every time he tries to support Obama.” He recounted Biden’s tough stance on his running-mate during the primary debates.

Still, much of the passion in the auditorium last night as the candidates’ faces were beamed onto a giant screen was all about Obama.

kmulvane@projo.com