View Single Post
Old 09-19-2008, 08:45 AM   #5070
Mac Howard
Sick as a Parrot
 
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: Surfers Paradise, Australia
Quote:
Originally Posted by GrantDawg View Post
I think that McCain never imagine that Palin was going to be a permenant boost in the polls. It really isnt even why she was picked. She was picked to shore up the RR base of the GOP, who are very luke-warm at best on McCain. They were never going to vote for Obama, but there was a real danger of a low turn-out among that sector as they mustly dislike/distrust McCain. With Palin on the ticket, they now have a reason to go because they get to vote one of them. She was definitely not a pick to pull from the middle, but any choice he could have made to try that would have turned off that base even more.

I think that's correct, too. It was clearly meant to confirm the right wing vote that he couldn't bring in himself. I think there might have been a hope that she would pick up some of the Clinton women voters but I don't think there would be many of those - Clinton and Palin or polar opposites but there may be a few who would simply vote for a woman.

So I think McCain has probably been happy with the effect she's had but I think the gloss is wearing off now as voters are taking a more sober view of her and realise that there are problems there when you get beyond the electoral appeal and think of her in the White House.
__________________
Mac Howard - a Pom in Paradise
Mac Howard is offline   Reply With Quote