Why Palin Was The Right Choice For VP

I think she was a very smart choice politically. McCain's strong points politically are experience and foreign policy. Those are Palin's weak points, but it does not matter because she fills in many of the other gaps and is the bottom of the ticket, unlike Obama. Any attack on her experience will inevitably lead back to Obama's experience. Experience is a losing issue for Obama.

The following are the reasons why I believe she was a great VP pick, in no particular order:

1. She may be able to get a few Hillary voters, though probably not many. There might be some female voters that vote purely on identity politics ( voting to break the "glass ceiling" is probably a more charitable way of putting it). In a close election this could make a difference.
Regardless of Hillary voters, Palin being a woman gives McCain a little of that "change" stuff that this election seems to be obsessed with. If Obama wins it will obviously be historic because of his race, but this pick makes a McCain victory a historic one as well because of his VP's gender.

2. She helps get rid of the age issue because she is 28 years younger than McCain.

3. She is the polar opposite of the Biden pick. She is not a Washington insider at all. She is a new face. She is a woman. She does not have hair plugs. She is mild mannered. Biden can't be a blowhard in the VP debate or he'll come off as a jerk.

4. Energy will be a key issue in this election, and an Alaska governor knows a lot more about energy than a Senator from Illinois or Delaware. Energy independence is also a national security issue.

5. She has energized the Republican base, the Christian right, that really cares about the social issues, especially abortion.

6. She helps reinforce the mantle of reform oriented candidates on the Republican ticket with her record of reform measures in Alaska.

7. She has executive experience, something no one else on either ticket has.

8. She is very likable and in no way can she be painted as "elitist" (as the Obama people have been doing to McCain because of the number of houses he owns). She is down to earth and has a great story and background that many people will identify with.


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