Friday, August 29, 2008

Stealing the limelight

I've seen some crazy political stunts, but this is quite audacious: John McCain has announced his VP candidate, the 44 year old governor of Alaska, Sarah Palin.

Will it work? On the one hand, it's a blatant bid for disenfranchised Hillary voters, and a grab at younger voters. But on the other, it does rather undermine the main line of criticism the McCain campaign has launched against Obama's inexperience. The announcement's timing is, of course, perfect. This is how to get the news cycle off the DNC. The next few months will indeed be interesting. No prizes for guessing whom I'm barracking for, despite some serious reservations.

6 comments:

Mark Stevens said...

As I like to say, "Ahh McCain, you've done it again!" :-)

byron smith said...

Interesting choice: she is a six day creationist, a NRA member and enthusiastic second amendment supporter, an anthropic climate change sceptic and is very keen to see extensive drilling for oil in ecologically sensitive areas. McCain had only met her once before the announcement yesterday. It seems she is also under investigation for alleged abuse of power. I'm sure there will be many more twists and turns to come in the next eight weeks.

Christopher said...

I heard her described as someone who loves hunting, the environment and Alaskan oil - just the kind ecletic mix of insanity the US and the world needs now.

Anne Wood said...

When I first heard this I wondered whether John McCain also had a black man waiting in the wings for vice president just in case Hilary had won the Democratic nomination.

byron smith said...

Anne - that is hilarious! Although I doubt it, given the fact that he had only met her once before the announcement. I reckon this is a fairly recent (and somewhat desperate?) decision. Perhaps McCain has polling that doesn't look as close as what the media have been publishing (in which O & Mc are almost even)?

OK, I'm really off to Rome now.

Mark Stevens said...

I read this morning that this 'grandmother to be' slashed funding to a program helping expectant teenage mothers find accommodation. And, she believes the war in Iraq is a part of 'God's plan'!


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