Given that the LA Times is not, by the wildest stretch of the imagination, a wild-eyed right-wing rag...the above article should prove fairly revealing.
1) Obviously, she is a woman, and this may appeal to many disgruntled former Hillary supporters.
2) She's already run a major reform *against her own party*.
3) She's savvy enough to, in a state like Alaska, purge the silly luxuries (Private jet, chauffeur, etc) from the Gov. office.
4) She comes with a history of tax cuts. (Always popular with the average voter).
5) She strongly favors ANWR drilling (Quite popular with the average voter facing long commutes and obscene gas prices).
6) She's fought the oil companies, driving through a pipeline they *opposed*.
7) As a hunter and lifetime NRA member, she solidifies the gun-owner demographic that previously only grudgingly supported McCain as infinitesimally less horrid than Obama.
Unlike adding a known plagiarist (Neil Kinnock, '88; Law School), the most talented Gaffe-Meister since Dan Quayle ("I mean, you got the first mainstream African-American who is articulate and bright and clean and a nice-looking guy," Biden said. - CNN 1/31/07 ), and 35 years of Senatorial support of the status quo (which kind of drags down the whole "hope and change" meme) ...
Palin would seem to gather back in potentially straying GOP demographics, appeal to the blue collar "you're spending my money on WHAT?" meme, and reach out to disgruntled DEM voters.
Analysis? Biden, as VP nominee, is not terribly dissimilar to going that extra step to machine gun ones own foot (a mere rifle shot being insufficient to the task); Palin, while lesser known, does not present any obvious downsides at this point and brings several upsides to the GOP ticket, from their point of view.
As to the Blue Collar thing, don't forget that her husband is a union Ironworker, and a former US Army Sniper.
ReplyDeleteI come here by way of AD's blog...
ReplyDeleteI'm curious about your opinion on Palin's statements about eliminating domestic partner benefits for Alaska state employees to "honor" traditional families.