Republican ticket
Opinion: Sarah Palin and the race for American presidency.
On the Friday morning after the Democratic National Convention, it was hard to imagine that any story could knock Barack Obama's historic acceptance of his party's nomination off the headlines. But, that afternoon, John McCain did just that by announcing his running mate. It was a decision that had been analysed to the hilt by talking heads the world over: would it be his primaries adversary Mitt Romney? Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal? Could it even be former Democrat and mate of McCain Joe Lieberman? As it happens, it was none of these people, but Governor of Alaska, Sarah Palin. At first glance, it seemed at best a baffling, at worst a cynical choice.
Even the most hardened politicos had to think for a minute when the name first emerged, but by now there's barely a person alive who doesn't know who she is, for all manner of reasons. Mind you, there's nothing remotely inconspicuous about the moose-hunting, moose-eating, gun enthusiast with the $300 dollar specs. And while the cosmetic has provided the frame for the persona, it's definitely her political positions that are causing the main talking points.
For her own party, it's eased fears that McCain was perhaps too centrist for the base conservatives of the GOP. As a vehement pro-lifer with creationist tendencies and generally a down-the-line right winger, she possesses the same value set as the current President that the Republican base demand, but with sufficient distance from his by now toxic administration to argue that she is the “agent of change” she set herself out as at the Republican Convention. Democrats, on the other hand, have other thoughts.
As far as most Dems are concerned, Palin taking up the VP spot is nothing more than a ploy to try and undercut female support from Democrats who are still sore over Hillary Clinton not being their nominee, a ploy which is unlikely to work, especially since she went very much on the attack at her own convention (her suggestion that community organizers had no actual responsibilities was like when in a Bruce Lee movie, he would go mental after discovering he was cut).
They're also getting considerable mileage out of what Jon Stewart has called her “intriguing” lack of experience, having spent just shy of two years as Governor of one of the least populous states in the union, and serving as Mayor of a city roughly equivalent to South Park. So, to some the McCain/Palin ticket might be the best possible thing to happen the States right now, to others they resemble the worst Ting Tings tribute band ever. Realistically though what are their chances come November?
First of all, Palin's presence doesn't put any new states in play, Alaska has voted Republican since it's been a state, but what she does do is mollify the voters who supported Bush in 2000 and 2004 but weren't sure of McCain's conservative credentials, and given them a character they can rally behind in the same way liberals have rallied behind Obama.
Of course, for every vote they gain to the right they're likely to lose at least one to the centre, so McCain has to pretty much say the word “maverick” every time he opens his mouth from now on so as to combat the idea that he's caved in to the base of his party.
And as Obama's campaign continues to hit him with the “Voted with President Bush 95% of the time” line to considerable effect, that won't be easy.
By: Paddy Duffy
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