Some pundits are calling it a desperate move by McCain. At the end of the day, Obama/Biden is a much stronger ticket.
Neither is very impressive experience. I'd say being Governor of Alaska is pretty good executive experience though.
I think they are optimistically hoping for a 2-3% swing in women. That's it. The problem is that when you look at demographics, women was the only one he had ANY shot at budging with a pick.
I'm assuming LIBERAL pundits are the ones you are quoting? LOL Conservative pundits were saying Biden was a desperate pick because Obama was falling in the polls and was trying to fight off the experience problem.
Exactly. Let's put it this way. If MSNBC and CNN say it's a desperate pick, it's a great pick. We all know most people on FoxNews will love the pick. Rush has been hyping her up for months(although he always regarded her as a longshot), so he'll probably love the pick as well. In other words, screw the pundits. They all have their own agendas. Here's what matters. 18 million people voted for Hillary. A good number of those voters were backing her because of her gender. That cannot be disputed. A lot of women(including many who aren't among those 18 million) were disappointed Obama didn't select Hillary or another woman as his VP. And 52% of the entire electorate is female. This pick is a game changer. It energizes the conservative base. It will attract women voters. It will undercut Obama's momentum from his speech last night. And it will reinforce McCain's image as a maverick.
Oh, I think we'll be able to run effectively against a McCain/Palin ticket and win, but you have to admit that this'll get more of a buzz than the most realistic and mentioned possibilities.
All of the hype about Biden and Palin misses one thing - VPs don't win elections, at best they help you not lose them. Short of LBJ delivering Texas in 1960 the VP pick is really a whole lot of to-do about nothing. Lloyd Bentsen demolished Dan Quayle in 88 and it made absolutely zero difference. Lieberman didn't deliver Florida in 2000. Edwards didn't do much for Kerry. Jack Kemp didnt' deliver working class votes to Bob Dole. Gore was back-up Bubba to Bill's show...etc.
No, it doesn't. McCain still has way more experience than Obama. She's running for VP. She just needs to look hot, charm people, and talk about her 2 years of executive experience bucking the Republican establishment. (2 years isn't a lot, but it's half of Obama's US Senate experience).
Bingo. This is still all about Obama-McCain. McCain can only hope that she pulls him a small fraction of voters to win one battleground state, and even that is unlikely imo.
I agree, these VP picks don't matter much. People are going to make their decision based on the Presidential candidate.
I think the VP debate does matter. Cheney made Edwards look like a va jay na in '04. It difused the Edwards pick (southerner with rural roots). If McCain chose Palin for the female vote, Biden can make her look like she belongs in the kitchen. Of course, he needs to be careful cause she is female. I also agree Hillary needs to attack Palin while Biden focuses on McCain and Obama can stay above the fray.
Experience at what. I would like to know. Obama has 10+ years of legislative experience. McCain has more. Roberts Rules of Order don't really change much from the state to federal level - I would like to know exactly what portions of the rules that McCain has mastery over that Obama needs to learn, in your opinion
I respectfully disagree. When you see Hillary Clinton go after Ms. Palin you'll see why. Palin helps McCain in other ways. To borrow from B-Bob in a recent post, we'll have to see if this "novelty" wears off in a month or so, or if it has legs.
What defused the Edwards pick was not the debate that nobody watched or remembered - it was the man at the top of the ticket.
