It's an interesting response to a VP candidate who knows nothing about foreign affairs, but is being marketed as a maverick. Perhaps it will challenge people to ask, what is her independent nature. I get the feeling that this maverick theme is nothing more than a defense against the fact that both Reps and Dems in Alaska (legislature and media) don't respect her. With $1200 checks coming in from oil revenues, it's not that hard to figure why she has 80% favorable ratings from the citizenry there.

It's a good response. First, the woman's voice is essential, and good. Second, it stays on message, not getting distracted by media frenzy, both in terms of setting a tone and of repeating the arguments against McCain. Third, it sets up future ads about McCain's questionable judgment by framing the discussion as McCain's making his choice. And that: 'Well, he's made his choice' says so much more than the mere words.

I'd start going after his recklessness and poor decision-making skills, his flip-flops etc. More of the same isn't damning enough--he's now proven, shockingly, to be a worse decision-maker than Bush.

It's a good start. Keep pounding on how insufficient McCain is as the primary candidate on the ticket.

Not only does he not understand the pressure the middle and working classes of the country are under in today's economy, but he is eager to prove that he can win a war. Even if he has to start several with the help of his lobbyist advisors.

My bank account can't afford this blowhard in the White House. His choosing Hockey Mom to placate the special interest Xianist Funda-Mentals to be his sidekick gives me no confidence that he can set aside partisan politics and make a decision in the country's best interest.

Nothing has changed since last week. McCain is still someone who can't think through an important decision for the citizenry at large.

Country First, my ass!

I think it's a good solid ad and a safe way to keep up the themes Sen. Obama presented on Thursday about moving out of the past eight failed years. But I don't think we will have any grasp of the fallout from Gov. Palin until after the convention and the MSM settles on a narrative. That is why I think it is so incredibly important for the Obama team to be working the refs here and shutting down ideas that Sarah Palin is some energy expert b/c she is Gov. of Alaska and promoting the fact that she has no foreign policy experience and no clue what is happening in Iraq.

I think the media, after the swoon, is inclined to go down that road. I also think the media, stung by the HRC primary, is quick to draw sexism card and call foul.

This is a make or break moment for McCain: he will either have won or lost based on how Palin shakes out to the public at large. I have a feeling the McCain team isn't going to have her do any interviews.

I am sure that Obama communications team is more knowledgeable than me, but I would continue to put a lot of emphasis on the unseriousness of the McCain campaign as the Republican candidate seems to be chasing skirts of women much younger than him such as Paris and Spears and Palin rather than running a Presidential campaign.

I like it. It ignores Palin and goes right back to the real McCain.

10 billion a month doesn't resonate.
They've got to humanize the numbers.

How many new colleges is that?
How many scholarships?
Did you know that 10 billion a month is enough to make 10,000 randomly drawn Americans into millionaires? Month after month? How would you feel about 120,000 new American millionaires a year? Did you win the Iraq lotto? Or did Halliburton?

Or at the very least do the division into something stunningly bite-sized:

$4000 a second...

You've got to give the numbers punch!

it's not bad, but i want to see more body blows to her too. they need to box these two into a corner so he dumps her, ensuring a november defeat and ending this farce.

Don't like it. Who is the target audience? The already confirmed Obama supporters?

What does this do to change the mind of a non-committed Barama voter?

It's a great strategy because the claim being made happens to be true, and based on sound political analysis. There is a very little evidence suggesting that large numbers of voters make their decisions based on running mates. Dan Quayle was always a joke and Bush Sr. still won. Did Geraldine Ferraro bring Walter Mondale a decisive female vote? Not so much.

It's a great ad. I think it's essential for the Obama campaign to let the MSM have the floor on the question of Palin's biography and experience.

Any criticism of Palin from the Obama camp allows McCain to reply with the issue of Obama's experience or with charges of sexism, and any partisan criticism becomes part of the MSM's story. As it is Republicans are criticizing the pick and the MSM is having and will have a field day digging into her story, questioning her readiness and tracking the development of the scandal.

All Obama needs to do is sit back and let it work. And the beauty part is, it doesn't cost a dime in campaign funds to do so. And let the McCain camp sit and wait for the moment when they get to reply to an attack on Palin that never comes.

Well, it has the virtue of being true, and it ignores Palin altogether, which is for the best.

She really, truly is beneath mention, and the political calculus of how to point up her obvious shortcomings without creating backhanded sympathy for her is so complex that I think Obama (and especially Biden) would do well to pretend that McCain never picked anyone.

Americans like fair fights, and if Obama or Biden actually threw a punch, there'd be genuine outrage, since she's pretty much incapable of defending herself. But Americans despise people who try to rise above their station and fail, and that's exactly what Palin has been set up to do. If Team Obama ignores her, she'll look even more ridiculous than she already does.

it is a nice placeholder to remind people that, exciting or not, VPs rarely make a difference in the election and no matter how shiny the new object, the top of the ticket is still McSame.

it buys time to figure out how they really want to address Palin, which I hope comes soon.

Just leave here alone for now. Gustav should take her out of the headlines shortly and her own inadequacies will sink her shortly. The glow on her will wear of quickly when all the people she has been shitting on in in Alaska start speaking up

Answer One: McCain is going to have his ass handed to him by the press until at least Monday, so I think this is a good ad. Let the press eat him alive for the next couple days and then when that dies down, hit him with an ad focusing on his poor judgment.

Answer Two: If McDonald's comes out with a McShit sandwich, Burger King doesn't need to run a campaign to counter it. It's a shit sandwich. It speaks for itself.

Good thing Bush got rid of all those surpluses by cutting taxes on the rich because Washington would have just spent it. Oops, it did anyway.

We ain't seen the bottom of the hole yet says John McCain, but if I have anything to do with it, I'll see that we do by the end of my four years.

Seeing your pain and raising the stakes. I'm John McCain.

The ad is good in that minimalizes Palin. Right approach.

I also think John McCain must not have a very high opinion of himself as he thinks Governor Palin can fill his shoes if need be.

Ugh.

Perfect ad. The Obama people shouldn't lay a finger on Palin, period. Not now, not three weeks from now. Let the media shred her and the consensus congeal around how terrible a pick she is. Obama does "classy" then just about any politician I've seen. I expect him to treat Palin accordingly, and it will be the perfect move. Welcome her into the race and treat her with respect.

If Obama attacks Palin, McCain will shriek and whine about Obama "picking on her" and play the gender card. Much better to let the media do its work, then wait for the Palin gaffes to do their work on their own. She is going to embarrass herself. If she somehow defies the odds and stands up to the pressure, then attack her.

Finally, I will say this: Obama doesn't want Palin dropping out of this thing after two weeks under the klieg lights of the national media. While such a development would surely hurt McCain, liberals should not forget who replaced Harrier Miers: John Roberts.

If Palin melts down and quits too soon, McCain could replace her with someone more solid and recover. I know others would disagree with this assessment, but it's important to NEVER underestimate the memory hole. If Palin is replaced with someone more capable before October starts, and he has a half decent October Surprise to unleash, McCain really could recover.

Obama should just let Palin be Palin. That should be more than enough.

Answer Two: If McDonald's comes out with a McShit sandwich, Burger King doesn't need to run a campaign to counter it. It's a shit sandwich. It speaks for itself.

Then how do you explain the BK Shit Deluxe?

I wouldn't mind seeing HRC deliver the Palin smackdown, at just the right time.

Is it just me, or does Sarah Palin seem kind of...oh, what's that word....presumptuous? I mean, just who does she think she is?

I think, for now, this is the best response. The focus should stay on McCain, McCain, McCain.

There will be time to point out her real positions, like abortion and gay rights. Let Biden teach her about foreign policy in the debate. Wait for her to say something stupid and then use it. But for now, ignore her for the token that she is.

I also think John McCain must not have a very high opinion of himself as he thinks Governor Palin can fill his shoes if need be.

Oh my.

(Ouch) X (Touche) = Scalp De McCain

Yep. Ignore the nice tender bait laid out by the oh so clever ReThugs and keep hammering McPOW.

Maybe we'll get them to scream about the "Existential Realities" that make an attack on McPOW an attack on Palin. That was funny.

Plus, sticking it to McPOW will remind the Palinstinians of the importance of Vice President (bucket of piss anyone?) She will not be positioned to fulfill their dreams of TalEvangical Domination.

Good response. Palin is a cipher; her chief recommendation is her personal story, and undecided voters are going to resent going after her. Going after her would also contradict the new Obama campaign theme--that's we need to get away from personal attacks and debate the actual concerns we have going forward. Palin can be dealt with when the time comes, on the issues. The MSM meme is a matter of some concern [I woke this morning to NPR swallowing her alleged "maverick" credentials whole], but I'm guessing that the digging that's already going on will change that tune.

I think in a sense, the blogsphere has Obama's back on the Palin issue. He can't count on the MSM to bring up her negatives, but he can definitely count on the Left blogosphere to do so. And, strangely, the right blogosphere will help him too with their attacks on her. This way he can velvet glove her.

I like ROTFLMLiberalAO's emphasis on making the numbers meaningful.

That's Just What I Said

No no no. It's not 'more of the same.' It's worse. The reader at TPM who wrote that 'more of the same' was a terrible marketing strategy is correct. You just never say this in marketing--it's fundamental.

And in this case, a 'worse than Bush' message would be demonstrably true. McCain would in fact be worse than Bush for about fifty reasons: VP pick, temperament, Supreme Court openings, age--but also because McCain may be competent enough not to fail where Bush tripped over his own shoelaces to the relief of decent-thinking people (Social Security anyone).

When will this campaign or any other get the message? When will they pick up the 'right-wing extremist' line that Big Dog left on the table? When will they pick up the 'Worst President Ever' meme for Bush and plaster McCain with it by extension? Are we in for yet another campaign of horribly lost opportunities that risk another tragic Republican administration?

Actually I would prefer the semi-unknown Palin to the known malice of McCain. If the devil gave me such a dilemma.

Palin is a distraction. An interesting one to be sure, but a distraction nonetheless.

She's a political featherweight and someone for McCain to hide behind (expect her to take a surprisingly central role in the media, due to her youth, looks and energy).

Stay with what's working. The ad is a touch dull, but whatever the tone, the content should stay as McCain=Bush.

A lot's been made of the 'tightening up' of the polls, which is a load of baloney. They been effectively static for two months now, with Obama having maybe a 3-4% edge. It's also not taking into account the huge voter registration drive going on by Democrats.

As an advertising copywriter, I'd like to see more invention and bite in the commercials, but the message is right.

The ad is OK and makes a good point, but I agree with those who say the emphasis should remain focused on McCain. The process used in making his selection is one more piece of evidence of his being unfit for command.

I like the ad. It gives a big "so what" to McCain's supposedly "maverick" choice for Vice President.

Palin really is just more of the same, with a lack of leadership credentials, anti-choice ideology and pro teaching creationism in the schools thrown in. Palin looks sooooo last century. And all this ideological baggage with a perjury charge hovering over her shoulder. I wonder if she will cry at a press conference when reporters bring up her ex-brother-in-law for the 70th time.

McCain is going for the midshipmen's vote here. Sure, Palin's inexperienced, but look at those runway gams! And when you go vote, boys, bring the little woman along. I'm waiting breathlessly for the bathing suit picture. You know somebody's got one.

I think a good response ad would be for the Dems to run lots and lots of ads featuring women endorsing Obama and criticizing McCain's judgment. Women like Hillary, the female governors and senators. McCain wants to make Palin the issue -- just keep the focus on the person Paris Hilton calls "the wrinkly old man," the one who used poor judgment to choose an inexperienced running mate.

Smart response. McCain is the issue at the end of the day. The Palin pick reflects negatively on McCain's seriousness for the office of president.

But at the end of the day Palin is a side-show.

It would be mistake for the Obama campaign to attack Palin, because they don't have to. All they have to do is sit back and watch the McCain campaign implode after the two thirds of the country that cares more about fixing the economy and the healthcare system than they do about overturning Rov v. Wade weighs in on this desperate pick.

It would be mistake for the Obama campaign to attack Palin, because they don't have to. All they have to do is sit back and watch the McCain campaign implode after the two thirds of the country that cares more about fixing the economy and the healthcare system than they do about overturning Rov v. Wade weighs in on this desperate pick.

Completely agree about laying off and let the press have at it for a week. I don't know, but I think we're going to see some interesting reports from Andrea, Modo and Cambell. Already Cambell's been a bit aggressive as well as Andrea. Look, they were hard on Hillary but I think they're going to be really hard on the McCain campaign about this. Let them do the initial dirty work.

Very subtly makes the point that Palin isn't worth noticing. I agree that attacking her isn't the way to go. No need to.

Continues the "more of the same" argument.

Me likee.

I think that over the next few weeks we'll see Hillary take over the necessary but small task of dismantling Sarah Palin. It's a logical step - Barack and Joe can't be too hard on Sarah or they risk looking like meanies, but another woman won't have the same constraints. Although one could also make the case that if Palin can't take it from her male opponents, then how will she stand up against someone like Putin?

My immediate reaction on watching it is "probably a good move". For the moment, it is likely safer to virtually ignore Palin and keep the focus on McCain. Once we see how things shake out and how the public reacts, then they can more safely make statements about her.

But for the moment, for Obama's team to even imply that Palin is just a cynical pander to women, unqualified, etc., let alone come out and say it, would probably backfire. It would look like bullying, as well as a desperation move, to come out swinging this quickly. We can afford to stop and survey the lay of the land, so to speak.

And the McCain banner ad running on WM right now? Paris Hilton and Britney Spears.

Yes, McCain is a serious, serious man. Jesus.

The Obama ad response is absolutely perfect. Ignore the pick, which after all isn't what people vote on, and target McCain. After all, he's responsible for his decisions, his picks, his staff, his issues and opinions, and may ultimately be responsible for all of us. Targeting McCain is the right way to go.

This is the first instance I know of The Hug between McCain and Bush appearing in an Obama television ad. I would have liked this image to have been broadcast all summer so it was firmly engrained, but its better late than never.

Its hard not to feel giddy that the Palin pick is going to be a naked disaster.

Keep it up!

I am sure that Obama communications team is more knowledgeable than me, but I would continue to put a lot of emphasis on the unseriousness of the McCain campaign as the Republican candidate seems to be chasing skirts of women much younger than him such as Paris and Spears and Palin rather than running a Presidential campaign.

Palin's got personal issues, scandals, and rumors bursting aplenty, but initially I think the Obama campaign doesn't need to overtly push any of them. Sure, they'd be remiss if they weren't doing opposition research and making sure the media was made aware of anything that is worthy of followup, but there is no reason--yet--for the campaign to say anything about those.

Right now, the campaign needs to push its positive message and, where it attacks, attack McCain.

Meanwhile, there's plenty of people outside of the campaign to keep the various ethics issue, and other personal issues bubbling until one explodes.

The Palin pick actually did something I thought wasn't possible: it made me feel sad for McCain. Sad in a kind of oh dear, he's just embarrassed himself so I'd better look away kind of way. Even that new poster of them together makes me want to look away in shame. He really is determined to shred himself of any dignity before he leaves the political stage, isn't he?

Regarding the theme above: Leave her alone and let the media go after her...

It is sound and wise.

But given that she doesn't think global warming is human caused, how many of you are expecting that the media will ask her:

If the science is wrong and global warming in not caused by humans, what is the correct scientific explanation?

Does anybody here actually expect that to be asked? Ever? Can the media be counted on to ask even the most fundamental questions important to the citizenry of a democracy?

In regards to my earlier post on making numbers sing: How many seconds would it take at $4000/sec to equip your local high school football team with all new safety football gear? How many seconds would it take for every high school football team in America? That's the sort of zip you have got to give numbers. You've got to make them spiral tightly and fly true...

The ad is unfair.

McBOC

Agree with others that this is a good way to go. Obama laid out the Republican philosophy of government as a failure on Thursday. After the Palin choice, hmmmm.....still a failure. Ignore her, see if she'll make an unforced error or two under the pressure of a campaign. They can go after her later on certain issues that reinforce the more of the same meme-abortion, anti-science.

I would love to see the Obama surrogates pick up the thread that McCain's temperment is a big issue, using his "what the hell" process in picking Palin as a weapon. A couple 15 minute meetings and a 5 minute phone call is ALL the contact these two had until yesterday-he can't possible vouch for her abilities. Its a risky choice made with no forethought-fits right in with a questioning of McCain's temperment, especially re: foreign policy.

I agree with all those above who say not to attack Palin. And the "four more years" stuff is good.

But McCain's choice of her really confirms his recklessness. A friend of mine who is a republican and a strong McCain supporter used the term "reckless" to describe the decision.

If I were BO, I would really drive the riskiness and recklessness theme every way I could -- never mentioning Palin -- but knowing it plays right into it.

Best framing so far by the Obama campaign came in response to Cindy's faux outrage over Obama's speech:

"McCain is promising to double down on the economic policies of George W. Bush..."

The Palin pick is the equivalent of McCain "going it alone" in Euchre, he doesn't care what cards his VP pick brings to the game. In that view I think this it the right approach by Obama.

I like it. The whole point of the Palin pick was to divert attention from McSame. The ad ignores the distraction and keeps the focus on an attack that wins for Democrats.

Agreed with letting the media handle Palin, with an assist or two from Hillary -- and the series of 'women's voices' idea from above is a good one.

But let me handle one thing that's been popping up in every thread -- she's a fake. McCain will 'dump her.' (Some people thought both would be gone.)

It isn't that easy, and it would hurt McCain as much as anything he's done. (I remember the Eagleton affair, and how many McGovern supporters 'gave up' after that blunder.)

First, she'd have to agree to go. Once she's the nominee, there's nobody who can kick her off, not even McCain. (Of course, all sorts of pressure could be put on, but if she says "I'm staying" that's it.)

Second, politically she'd HAVE to be replaced by another woman, and one who appealed to the same audience, or the ones who DO like her would be up in arms.

Third, how that pick was made would be very interesting, and make the cry of 'bossism' an easy one for Democrats to make -- and the in-fighting among various groups would be 'wondrous to behold.'

It may happen -- if it happens before the nomination it will be easier -- but don't think this was all a plot 'arranged in advance.' However it works out, it has probably cost the Republicans very dearly, and any solution -- including letting it slide -- will give them yet another hurdle to overcome. There aren't many Republicans that are happy with John McCain, and I bet a lot wish they could change their vote to anybody else. Expect to hear a lot of LOUD "No's" when the call for 'acclamation' comes up.

Great commercial, but I hope they go after his shameless pandering...

Great f-ing ad. Don't get distracted. Don't even waste breath on mentioning "the choice's" name - doesn't matter, because the choice is such a lightweight. Keep the focus on the same old Republican agenda. Nicely done. Obama campaign has been pitch-perfect of late.

Picking Palin, as countless pundits have said, was a way for McCain to grab attention away from Obama's best week ever. But it was also meant as a way for McCain to pull attention away from his worst month ever. The trouble is, for McCain anyway, that his worst month ever ain't over: chosing Palin is slowly emerging as another stumble in a string of stumbles.

Obama is smart to run this ad and put the focus back onto McCain. It's also smart not to interrupt McCain while he's in the process of shooting himself in the foot.

I was thinking this might be Obama's response for now: nothing. Ignore her. For the past 24 hours the press reaction has been a giant "huh?," and every single article on this pick has not only mentioned McCain's age, it's framed it with the question of her qualification to lead. For once, the pundits are doing his work for him without talking points.

The task for the next few weeks, during and after her coming out next week, is to simply make sure the media continues to shine that spotlight on her looking for cracks. She's going to present a an awful challenge for her handlers, as their not only going to have to brief he on McCain/Republican policy positions, in some cases they're going to have to figure out what those positions are. If she cracks, apply more pressure until she folds. If it turns out all she has are pro-life bona fides and DrillDrillDrill, then her qualifications can be seriously questioned. If she turns out to be truly made of teflon, then the spotlight returns to the republican adjenda, with it's more of the same war and oil companies calling the shots.

In any case, Obama's got it right for now: keep the focus on McCain and the failed republican policies that they will so loudly stand up for next week.

Why Palin spins mid-Atlantic...
Gustav goes to CAT 5 and points at New Orleans.

http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2008/08/30/america/NA-US-Bush-Gustav.php

The GOOPs are going to have to cancel.
That is a no-brainer. Anybody know if Brownie was going to the convention?

I saw Chertoff the other day on teevee, lowering expectations on the levees holding. FEMA isn't ready either. I smell disaster...

here's my bet: somewhere in the next few days (assuming, as i still give a 10% chance to, she doesn't withdraw), joe biden will say something like "i'm looking forward to my debate with governor palin; after all, by the end of it, i'll know her better than john mccain does."

in short, turn the astonishing irresponsibility of nominating someone you barely know into a joke....

It's a good ad, not earthshaking. Focusing on McCain's bad judgements is fine (although hard to make concrete).

There's another aspect to the judgement thing not being discussed: Palin's bad judgement in accepting the nomination. There are probably 10,000 or more folks in US politics who colorably could have been nominated using the Palin standard. 9,999 of them would have recognized that although it is an honor to be considered, that a hard look in the mirror and some careful thought, they would recognize that they are just not qualified to be VP of the USA. Palin's lack of judgement in not saying, Thank you Senator McCain, but in my judgement I'm not ready at this time to be a candidate for an office that could result in me being President.

McCain: bad judgement is choosing an unqualified potential successor.

Palin: bad judgement in thoughtlessly accepting a nomination for which they are not qualified.

Howard: ROFL, good one.

JimPortland: also very true.

Loved the risky and reckless line above, too.

What does it show about McCain's judgment when his VP pick, a person "one heartbeat away from the presidency" is not qualified? McCain likes to say "Country First", but with this risky and reckless pick, he proves otherwise.

Something like that.

As for going after Palin, Rep. Debbie Wasserman-Schultz and Sen. Amy Klobuchar have already done so. Two women, by the way, who are more qualified to be president than Sarah Palin. I esp. love Amy because she's so folksy and likeable, and started out by congratulating Palin before dismissing her. More please.

With the debates coming up a lot will depend on what questions are asked of the candidates.
MSM personalities will be asking the questions with their usual track record of taking them right out of Republican talking point memos.
If, for example, when Biden goes up against Palin, are they going to get fed abortion issue questions and other Christian right generated positions?
I'm not all that clear on the format for these debates - who gets to pick and choose what questions are asked?

I like the idea of ignoring Palin (well, he's made his choice. Shrug; what did you expect? A good one?) and continuing to pound McCain.

I even like it that it uses some of the same images (and memes) from a previous commercial -- it reinforces the message that nothing much has changed with this pick.

But I also agree with those who are saying that McCain would be more than just "4 more years"... Is anyone here old enough to remember the Herman Hermits? And their remake of a children''s song "Enery (Henry) the Eighth I am, I am?" Between stanzas, there was this:

Second verse, same as the first.
A little bit louder, a little bit worse.

That's *precisely* what we'd be getting with McCain.

I agree with all the above observations: the ad is a proper response and they should keep that line of attack on McCain.

About McCain's effort to diminish Obama's speech: after 38 MILLION take time out of their day to watch, I don't see how MSM focus on this can adversely affect the brilliance of all the speakers at the convention. The DNC fulfilled its primary objective: unify and galvanize the party. It was a home run by my account.

Excellent. Puts the two faces/embraces of George Bush and John McCain together--I just wish the video makers had included the video moment of the shared cake in Arizona the two oblivious,
self-centered republican geezers had on McCain's birthday instead of helping the elderly and disabled during the Katrina hurricane catastrophe of New Orleans in 2005.
People died as they ate cake together.

Classy ad, though.

I still don't see how the selection of VP's is going to contribute in any really significant way to the election of Obama versus McCain. Yes it is an intriguing choice for McCain, but after a few news cycles I don't think it will make much difference to a campaign that has all the indications of losing come November.

I do think Obama's folks have to tread somewhat carefully attacking Palin however, needlessly poking a stick into the realm of identity politics is not a strong point for the Dems being that the GOP pretty much has the village eating out its hand in that department. So its not that the VPs themselves are going to be a huge factor in the race, but there is no point in ceding what little they do bring to the table, by over reaching in any big anti Palin effort. We need to keep even the low scoring cards in our hand

I liked it alot. They've dismissed Palin without comment which for now is the smart thing to do. And they are now focusing on the more-of-the-same argument.

On election day, they will win if the large majority of voters know the meaning of one fact as they enter the voting booth: 90%, 90%, 90%.

"

"Answer Two: If McDonald's comes out with a McShit sandwich, Burger King doesn't need to run a campaign to counter it. It's a shit sandwich. It speaks for itself."

Then how do you explain the BK Shit Deluxe?"

Posted by: Jennifer on August 30, 2008

---------

Will you guys cut it out. You're killin' me here!

ROFLMAO 707

The ad speaks for itself. Effective -sticks to the issues. Obama needs to ignore Palin-- in time she fades, but he needs to keep going after McCain.

Clearly a part of John's strategy was to get a woman so that Biden could not bite into her. Surrogates can, Obama cannnot. At the same time, I am anxious to see how she debates, she is so 'overqualified' I cannot imagine what it would be like. One thing is sure however, she represents the best test of a wild card.... if ever there was one.
manchestersquare.blogspot.com

It's a great first ad, but I'd like to see a few hammer home the same point.

Absolutely agree that the best strategy is to ignore Palin. At the same time, "her no abortion under any circumstances" position provides the opening to highlight McCain's pro-life position and his opposition to equal work-equal pay legislation.

This is an opportunity to inform the substantial number of voters that still think McCain's maverick stance means a soft pro-life position.