Sarah Palin is a game changer, is there any doubt after this weekend? She has simultaneously energized the conservative base AND independents. I am truly shocked by how well this pick has been received.
Conservatives have been waiting for McCain to stick his finger in their eye once again. With this pick, he has shocked them by delivering an authentic conservative. He raised $3 million overnight and has re-energized his base in a way few thought possible.
I am surprised that independents have been as impressed,
64% of unaffiliated voters now give positive reviews to McCain, up ten points since naming his running mate.
I really thought this was a risky choice. I, like Richard Brookhiser of National Review, took a decidedly negative view initially. I tried to make these points tonight, but the callers for the most part, were having none of it. Here’s Brookhiser,
The Palin pick shows a low opinion of the vice presidency, and it shows conservatives in a bad light.
Why is this so? Because for months experience has been the issue. McCain has undercut his two main campaign themes, Barack is NOT READY TO LEAD and COUNTRY FIRST. Can you really make the argument that McCain put country first with this pick? Instead, it is the GOP embracing the identity politics it claims to detest. Palin tickles all the right interest groups, women (check), guns (check), God (check), pro life (check).
All that said, Repubicans don’t seem to care. They love the Palin pick and for good reason. She is what Barack Obama claims to be. She’s a reformer with a record instead of speeches. She’s bipartisan in action rather than in words. Unlike Obama, she has fought the politics of old within her own party. In short, she is the anti-Obama.
Gary Gross from Let Freedom Ring called in from MN to weigh in with his perpective on Palin. He disagrees with my initial reaction to the selection and makes a strong case for Palin here.
Liberals are besides themselves. They are not simply pointing out the experience issue, they are openly mocking her. Some, like the loathsome Andrew Sullivan, are quite happy to pass along ugly smears against the Palin family. All I can say about this is, keep it, please, keep it up.
The enthusiasm gap has been obliterated overnight. No matter what happens from here, one thing is clear, Sarah Palin is a game changer.
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