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Governor Congeniality

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William Crawley | 19:39 UK time, Friday, 29 August 2008

80011223.jpgThe about Sarah Palin, the more curious of her as his running mate appears. She is a former beauty queen (runner up to Miss Alaska and declared Miss Congeniality in her hometown contest). A former 'Christian athlete', she worked for a time as TV sports reporter, then entered city politics, becoming mayor of a town of 9,000 people, before becoming Governor of Alaska, a state with roughly the same population as Greater Belfast. In other words, Sarah Palin has no foreign policy experience, and very little experience of state-wide leadership.

Given all the other possible running mates, why would John McCain chose a candidate with so many gaps on her political CV? One possible reason: he's trying to poach those female Clinton supporters who are still having trouble supporting Obama. We know that female candidates (and particularly governors) have proven more successful than their male counterparts at winning over swing voters and swing states. Another is that he wants a candidate who immediately changes the age-profile of his ticket. A third is the moral credentials of Governor Palin: a pro-lifer who has vowed to end America's constitutional protection for abortion. And a fourth is the candidate's personal story: her rise from blue-collar roots to state government, and her decision to continue with a difficult pregnancy that eventually led to the birth of a child with Downs Syndrome. Sarah Palin is a 'Republican Mom' who will look less like a politician and more like a person to many voters in November.

All of this is clearly in her favour. Whether she can survive a vice-presidential debate against Joe Biden is another question. But then, Biden's attack dog style may not be best suited to a debate against a mother who is raising a child with a severe disability.

In any case, the campaign just took an interesting turn. I wonder how long we will have to wait before the video of Sarah Palin's beauty contest will surface online. Incidentally, in the 1984 Miss Alaska event, the future Governor Palin was defeated by an African-American contestant.

Comments

  • Comment number 1.

    And one more bit about the Alaska governor that should sit well with religious conservative nutjobs is that she pays lip service to creationists, calling for the non-existent 'controversy' to be taught, by teaching creationism alongside evolution:



    Flying Spaghetti Monster save us.

  • Comment number 2.


    Haha! Love the closing comment. Actually I'm beginning to enjoy McCain's campaign now that Palin's been added: it lends it an entirely different flavour, it certainly is gutsy, and I think the dynamics of the rhetoric must change now because she appears to represent everything good, wholesome and all-American and Obama will have to tread lightly. In all likelihood that means Obama will focus on her lack of experience: "She's a good lady etc.etc. but we're looking for someone who is competent to take America forward, etc.".

    Unfortunately, I also came upon this story by my favourite magazine WIRED: .


  • Comment number 3.

    Clearly McCain picked her simply because she was a woman to tempt Clinton Democrats, i would be suprised if anyone talks about her, this is most certainly going to be Obama vs. McCain, but its going to be tight

  • Comment number 4.

    WOW! She is a gun-totin', baby-pakin', moose-eatin, huntin, fishin, snowmobilin, tongue-speakin' pentacostal babolicious hockey mom!

    Only in AMERICA!

  • Comment number 5.

    Since for about half the voters, experience doesn't seem to matter, it was only natural for McCain to play the sexist card against the Democrat's racist card. Since it is expected most African Americans will vote for Obama, it is reasonable to assmue that many disaffected Hillary Clinton supporters will vote for McCain. It won't take a high percentage of them who would have voted for Obama or not voted at all to switch to throw the election to McCain if it stays as tight as the polls have it.

  • Comment number 6.

    She is an interesting choice - I think chosing her shows strength on Mc Cain's part, while chosing Joe Biden looks like weakness on Obama's part.

    Ludicrous to suggest she is to pick up Hilary Clinton voters - no way will they vote for McCain because of her. Her job is to get the conservative base, pro-life and pro-family, out to vote - the Republicans who are suspicious of McCain - she's not there to suck up moderates or women.

    It's made the race a straight fight between pro-life conservatives and baby-killer liberals.

  • Comment number 7.

    and I forgot to say, on the experience issue, she is the only candidate with actual executive experience - the rest are all legislators - experienced (well McCain and Biden) but used to having the cover of other people voting along side you.

  • Comment number 8.

    Have a look at this posting if you can be bothered. I know people hate when you promote your own blog but really can't be bothered repeating all this.

    It's about the difficulty in formally leaving the Catholic Church and how this means you are still bound by Canon Law (at least in the Church's eyes) which has interesting effects for Sarah Palin (and Autumn Kelly).

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