THE high-heeled, moose-hunting governor of Alaska has sent Barack Obama’s
campaign into a state of panic as support for the Democratic presidential
candidate haemorrhages in the battleground states he must win to reach the
White House.
Sarah Palin, 44, continued to scythe through Obama’s support among women by
taunting the first potential black president for declining to choose Hillary
Clinton as his running mate and by declaring that questions about juggling
work and family were “kind of irrelevant” in the modern age.
The mother of five, who has been called Xena, the warrior princess, said in a
television interview: “I think he’s regretting not picking [Clinton] now, I
do. What determination and grit and even grace through some tough shots that
were fired her way - she handled those well,” Palin said.
She presented herself as a champion of no-fuss, no-non-sense working mothers.
“Of course you can be the vice-presi-dent and you can raise a family,” she
said brightly. “I’m the governor and I’m raising a family.”
I n t h e f a c e o f P a l i n ’ s onslaught, Obama has continued to base his
campaign on the outdated claim that John McCain and his running mate
represent four more years of a failed Bush administration.
A senior Obama adviser said candidly that claim did not work. “I don’t think
it’s sticking. The McCain campaign has stolen our message of ‘change’ - the
very thing we’ve been campaigning on for 20 months. Well, who’s the change?
It’s McCain.” Palin’s astounding rise has left the Obama camp floundering
for a new narrative that will capture the imagination of voters in the
run-up to the November 4 election. “There is overreaction and panic,” the
official admitted. “The hard part for Barack is she’s stolen his thunder a
bit. It has knocked us off our game.”
In a series of interviews with ABC, Palin brushed aside charges that she had
changed her mind about a notoriously expensive “Bridge to Nowhere” in Alaska
and distorted her record of seeking congressional subsidies for her home
state. The only “gotcha” moment came when she was at a loss to understand
the concept of the Bush doctrine, defined by Charles Gibson, the
interviewer, as the right to self-defence by taking preemptive action
against terrorists. Gibson, however, has run into criticism from
conservatives for patronising Palin over a doctrine whose definition has
changed and is not widely recognised outside the world of Washington foreign
policy analysts.
Obama’s adviser said the attacks had misfired. “At the end of the day, women
are sick of men running everything. They’re thinking, ‘Enough already.’ It
has nothing to do with what she stands for. Our mistake was thinking women
had nowhere else to go.”
The Democrat cheers that greeted the selection of veteran senator Joe Biden,
65, the chairman of the Senate foreign relations committee, as Obama’s
running mate have died away.
“If we had picked Hillary Clinton, we would have saved ourselves three months
of anguish over the summer,” the official said. “If we had spent the time
unifying the party, we’d be in a totally different place. I’m not sure
McCain would have picked Palin if Hillary was VP.”
Palinmania has washed away Obama’s polling leads in several swing states that
he had been counting on to win.
A clutch of polls last week showed McCain ahead by five points in Missouri,
four in Ohio, four in Virginia and eight in Florida. New Mexico and N e v a
d a , t w o t o p O b a m a targets, recorded narrow leads for McCain. Other
states that had appeared to be comfortably in the Democratic camp now look
precarious. In blue-collar New Jersey, Obama’s lead has shrunk to three
points; in latte-sipping Washing-ton, it is down to two.
He is still narrowly ahead in Colorado and Michigan, where Palin has been
campaigning energetically, but the ground is shifting beneath his feet.
Advisers fear the get-out-the-vote machine that served Obama so well in the
primary campaign against Clinton will be overwhelmed by Palin’s legion of
female fans. “Are we running a primary campaign in a general
election?” the adviser wondered. “Our campaign has an unbelievable ground
game. It’s far superior to McCain’s but at the end of the day, people vote
on emotion. Do I like you? Do I trust you? Do you care about me?”
A poll by the Associated Press last week showed that white women preferred
McCain to Obama by 53% to 40%.
“People still don’t know what Obama stands for. There’s a perceived elitism
and something aloof about him. They just don’t connect with him,” the
adviser added. “As a person, Palin is very intriguing. She’s attractive and
funny and she’s a hell of a speaker. There’s an element of ‘she’s like us’.”
It is all the more galling for Obama’s supporters that Palin has been in the
news for little more than a fortnight. Voters told pollsters last summer
that they had heard too much about Obama but they cannot get enough of Palin
for now.
She remains a high-risk choice for McCain, who has been overshadowed by
Palin’s role as “campaigner-in-chief”. The crowds melted away for McCain’s
first solo appearance without her last week at a Pennsylvania diner where he
was heckled by Obama supporters.
There is still much to learn about the Alaska governor before voters go to the
polls. Investigators in her home state are seeking to subpoena Todd Palin,
her husband, for his alleged role in Troopergate - a dispute over the
alleged dismissal of a police chief for refusing to sack Palin’s former
brother-in-law, a state trooper who had fallen out with her family.
The tabloid National Enquirer, basking in new-found credibility after it
exposed the former White House candidate John Edwards as an adulterer,
claimed in its latest issue that Palin’s 19-year-old son Track was a regular
drug abuser who was packed off to the army to clean up. His unit deployed to
Iraq last week on the anniversary of the terrorist attacks of September 11,
2001.
The Obama campaign expects support for Palin to subside. It takes comfort from
memories of the collapse of Clinton, who was leading by double-digits in the
polls when she mishandled a question about driving licences for immigrants.
Her standing plummeted.
However, there is little time for voter disillusion to set in. Palin’s
working-class, Wal-Mart-mom appeal and moving life story are insulating her
from attack.
Her decision to raise Trig, a Down’s syndrome baby, and support for her
pregnant 17-year-old daughter Bristol have been widely praised.
At a rally attended by 23,000 supporters in Fairfax, Virginia, last week,
Jayne Young, 57, a registered independent, said: “My heart goes out to her
family. I liked what she said about being ‘just an average American family’.
You can be one of those übermoms and on your kids 100% of the time and they
still go off the rails.”
Katherine Hoppe, 65, was wearing a T-shirt emblazoned with the slogan “Another
Democrat for McCain”. She worked as a volunteer at Hillary Clinton’s
headquarters in Ballston, Virginia, and was present at her concession speech
to Obama.
“I felt horrible,” she said. “When McCain announced that he had picked Palin,
I went crazy. When you’re my age and Hillary’s, you want to give to the next
generation. Hillary did that. She gave us Sarah.”
Clinton is said by friends to be “gutted” that she put 18m cracks in the glass
ceiling for women only to have Palin kick in the pane. But she is thought to
share Palin’s conviction that the media are treating the Alaskan governor
unfairly.
Mark Penn, Clinton’s former chief strategist, said: “The media is doing the
kinds of stories on Palin that they’re not doing on the other candidates.
People are going to conclude that they’re giving her a rougher time. This is
an election in which the voters are going to decide for themselves.”
Some conservatives are concerned that Republicans are overplaying the sexist
card. Earlier this year, Palin accused Clinton of “whining” about the
attacks on her, but the McCain camp worked itself into an even greater lather
last week over Obama’s comments about “putting lipstick on a pig” - regarded
as an insult to their “pitbull in lipstick”.
Ramesh Ponnuru, an editor with the conservative journal National Review,
complained: “The Republicans are coming across as whiny grievance-mon-gers.
Don’t they realise that this harping on ambiguous slights is what people
hate about political correctness? It was bad enough when liberals were
trying to destroy Palin. Now Republicans are trashing her brand. They’re
undermining her appeal as a different, tougher kind of female politician.”
After repeated jabs from McCain, including the false charge that Obama
supported sex education for kinder-garteners, the Illinois senator hit back
with a negative advertisement mocking his 72-year-old rival for being out of
date and out of touch with computer technology, including e-mail.
It backfired when it emerged that McCain was unable to type because he was
injured as a prisoner of war in Vietnam.
The Obama adviser said the Democratic candidate should remain true to himself.
“He has to be who he is. When he was totally himself, he was doing so well.
He should keep at the things he cares about instead of having people turn
him into a pretzel.”
I think America is a great country but the current regime stinks. If McCain/Palin get in it'll further distance the US from rest of the world. Time to get in synch and not always be stubborn and difficult. Hope Obama gets in as the country needs a radical change of direction, not more of the same.
Rob T, London , UK
We do not come over to your country and tell you what to do, it is your buiness , not ours.
Marty , Cedar Rapids, America
Marty, I suggest you tell that to the people of Iraq.
Whoever is American President has a big impact on the rest of us which is why we have an opinion about it.
Liz, London,
A fascinating analysis from the UK. This is the type of thoughtful, in depth journalistic approach that is now largely absent from the US media. Shrill flacks and yellow journalism has taken over once proud news outlets, and the public is walking away from the trash talk.
Mike Barton, Kaysville, Utah, USA
Why can't they just say what they are going to do if they get in and be done with it rather than bringing each other down through personal attacks rather than policy. I think it's time these poilticans grew up and stopped acting like teenagers.
Sadie, UK,
Obama isn't flustered, shaken or anything of the sort by Sarah Palin. She's like the cute aunt, who you know isn't the smartest but just enough to raise kids. She isn't a threat. Distraction more like. Even enough so that people have forgotten if John McCain is still in the race. Is he?
Josh, Seattle, USA
Let Sarah make a fool of herself in public to her heart's content. The more she obfuscates and dissembles and is shown up, the better.
Julia Iskandar, London, England
few white americans need some excuse not to vote obama, they have found one in palin.
rajan mathew, BIRMINGHAM, united kingdom
Republicans/Bush/McCain etc showed EXCEPTIONALLY poor judgement supporting Bush's invasion of Iraq. Obama opposed his own party-line and opposed the invasion.
Republicans wrong. Obama right.
Republican's have no understanding or judgement in relation to the single biggest US decision of C21
Dave, Brisbane , Australia
Well whoop de do, she's a working mum, will she be like most of the working mums I know & go running off home when little jonny's sick!
Also, if she hadn't spent so much time being a career mum, maybe her teenage unmarried daughter would not be pregnant! Great example on how to raise kids!
Pete, St Albans, England
The people of the USA do not have a problem with voting for a black man . Senator Obama comes from one of the most corrupt cities in the United States, and has spent 8 years in that's States Legislature and he did nothing to get rid of the
crooked politicians, it was just business as usual.
Joe, Gulf Breeze, Fl, USA
You Euros only hear "pretty" the speeches. The Billionaire left owns Obama - that's why he had to settle for the limp-brained Biden whom he picked for foreign experience (not foreign- wisdom) not the same.
McCain picked Palin to unify his party - he wasn't conservative enough
Who's cynical?
Pat from Texas, Arlington, TX, USA
Why is it that some of you people think she is a fanatic, she has not said or done anything that anyone should fear. Since
when are people of the Christian faith being Demonized, have
we threatened to kill you, or blow up your ralroads and slaughter your children or invade your country.
Joe, Gulf Breeze, Fl, USA
Supporters of Obama are going to have to focus on convincing independent voters, many of whom are not prepared to sit and listen to long subtle reasoned arguments by either party.
They want short reasons to vote for whomever -- sound bites.
Attacks and put-downs tend to be short.
Keith S, Winnipeg, Canada
McCain, sitting on the sidelines for 75% of the primaries, watching the Obama game-tapes, reading each of the cards that Barack had to play in his extended battle with Hillary - is it any wonder he picked Palin. The Republican strategy is very heavy, tightly woven and smothering Obama's campaign.
Zach George, Chicago, IL, USA
To the folk that think books were banned by Sarah Palin go to the website of her local paper in Wasilla called 'The Frontiersman'. The truth has been on the front page now since all the book rubbish started.If you read a Democratic lie that looks too bad to be true, google it.NO BOOKS WERE BANNED!!
David Bain, Croydon,
After alI I have read, she is not even fit to be the governor of Alaska, and he the President because he nominates her for VP.
bart, Orlando,
To Jean,NC. The 'fanatics' this year are the panicking Democrats who just can't get round their minds they have already lost the White House. Just who, if anyone vetted Obama a couple of years back? When the media went looking for old school friends, some 400 said they had never heard of him,a zero!
Tom Cosgrove, Chicago,
Just out of curiosity, did you all hear about the 1500 person strong group that showed up in Anchorage, Alaska the other day to rally AGAINST Sarah Palin? She's supposed to be beloved there. Not quite. People are beginning to get her measure and they're not liking what they see.
Jeri, Indiana, USA
Why do you hate Americans so much, haven't we always been there for you? If we as a country see the best in McCain and Palin, then so be it. We do not come over to your country and tell you what to do, it is your buiness , not ours. I am an American senior citizen, 78 years old and White woman.
Marty , Cedar Rapids, America
You should be in a panic! You could of had an automatic win by picking Hillary, but NOOOOO . I was a dedicated Democrat but I cant bring myself to terms voting for a guy who cant run his campaign much less the country. Was nice knowing you Obama.
Tony, East Troy, usa
Thank God for McCain and Palin ! The rest of the world is jealous of the success of the USA. Get used to a McCain/Palin Presidency. After this election the Liberals will have to move to Russia. Maybe someone there will take them seriously.
Vincent , Wayne, USA
Leave it to the party that told us to shop our way out of 911 to try to sell us sex and god in the same person.
spencer stair, santa fe, United States
Yes, Dave, we have had enough! Technically, we didn't even vote for "W." Please pull for us--we need an Obama win.
JJ, Wilmington, NC, USA
Sorry, but if anyone's a "pretzel," it's McCain. He is totally in the pocket of the right-wing fanatics.
Jean, North Carolina , U.S.
"Every newspaper should simply publish each campaign's proposals, point by point, in full,..."
I used to think this until I read Drew Westen's book "The Political Brain". It's not about policy, it's about emotion. Republicans know this, hence Palin. The Dems better learn this or Obama will lose.
sithandra, Los Angeles, CA, USA
One can criticize McCain for his policies, but to attack him for being unable to send emails is particularly childish.
At least Palin has served to show how Obama's team think under pressure.
Melissa, London,
miss.amaryllis, Devon, England
Please don't fall for internet lies. There is no list, several of the books listed hadn't even been published when she was mayor. If you don't like her that's fine, you don't get to vote, but I want you to be fair. Please. Thank you for you consideration.
Cindy, St. Johns, FL, USA
Palin isn't in politics because she is so patriotic but because she is greedy and self serving. HOW MANY TIMES CAN WE HEAR " THANKS BUT NO THANKS TO THE BRIDGE TO NO WHERE?' Learn the real truth about her and unless you are totally insane you won't be able to vote for her and McCain.
Judy Bous, Alexandria, America
Oh this would be so much more refreshing than having an Obama Euroliberal in office. While Obama and Biden would certainly be more of the same, McCain and Palin would bring needed change to DC!
Dave, Phoenix, AZ, USA
Obama's staged performance of JFK's Berlin performance, MLK's 'I have a dream' speech and the final Julius Caesar's polystryrene columns speak volumes about his team of spin merchants and their subliminal message of victory.
Obviously the authentic message isn't there. We dont know the real Obama.
Jeanette, London, UK
The press have been trying to destroy Palin for weeks now. So many lies and innuendos have been told about her: the books she wanted to ban, except that none were banned; the troopergate "fiasco," which has been nullified by the clear partisanship involved -- among others. The blinders are off.
Doug Beaton, Sanford, USA
This comment about Obama is the most telling of all:
"He should keep at the things he cares about instead of having people turn him into a pretzel.”
Do we want a president that can be turned into a pretzel?
Roy, Vermont, USA
Hasn't America had enough of slightly deranged,not very bright Christian fanatics and warmongers with slightly different versions of their experiences during the disgrace that was the Vietnam war than others remember? I know the rest of the world has.
Dave, Plymouth,
McCain has done the whole world a favour by selecting Sarah Palin. When she becomes President Palin in a few months time, America will have a stubborn bible-thumping self-righteous leader who will compel the world to follow China, Europe and Russia against the US. Can't wait for America's downfall!
Chung Li, London, UK
Who cares..
what a bunch of hype and media frenzy , 100s of words so much to say and not one statement of policy.
Alan, Sydney, Australia
WHAT AN AMAZINGLY SLANTED ARTICLE. I have rarely seen so many loaded words injected into a story with one unnamed source (apparently a "friend of Hillary") giving the author the opportunity to editorialise. WHAT ABOUT ALL THE LIES?
And why is it "outdated" to claim McCain= 4 more years??
Petrol, Hong Kong,
The antiintellectual tradition appears to be still going strong. God help the world if the mindless policies of the Republican party continue to plague the world
Acharya, bangalore, India
best way to deal with Palin effect is to let it run out of steam and treat the hysterical attacts of the McCain camp with a certain sense of humor - - such as enumerating all the reproaches of the Republican Attack Ads and saying - whow, that is amazing, how far this is from the real me
Heinz Geyer, London, UK
Isn't it interesting how many Americans read the Times?
As an Englishwoman who loves to read, I checked out the books she is supposed to have banned. Unbelievable! The Merchant of Venice? The Canterbury Tales? Brave New World? Many many more...
Surely not!
miss.amaryllis, Devon, England
This take is a bit behind the curve. A week ago, maybe. But the interview with ABC provided ample evidence that Sarah Palin isn't ready for close inspection and it was obvious. Meanwhile the relentless drip-drip-drip of her record in Alaska eats away at the intial euphoria.
JG Rogers, Havana, USA
When will Sarah Baxter stop parading her opinion as news? She's written about a hundred "Obama camp in disarray" articles in the past few weeks and it's getting quite repetitive. It also seems to be heavily exaggerated compared to what I read from American papers (WSJ & NYT).
Abioye A Oyetunji, London, UK
I agree with what Steven Swinney said about unmasking radical feminists. What cognitive dissonance these women must put themselves through to vote for McCain because Palin is a woman. I'm hard pressed to think of something more irrational and self-defeating than this stereotype-reinforcing idiocy.
Casey Wollberg, St. Louis, US
Disclusure of Obama's past assures rejection by a heavy majority. Thus the diversionary attacks on Palin. Obama's CV: Harvard Law Review, later on, years as a U-Chicago Constitutional Law prof....yet ZERO articles written. Years on a foundation board will sneering unreprentant terrorist Ayers.
reyn, Ann Arbor, USA
Palin makes Bush look like a highly thoughtful intellectual and Cheney a visionary philosopher. Well done, average Americans! As always, you are just beyond my wildest imaginations. May God bless you all and commander-in-chief Sarah a la hockey mom, in the coming nuclear standoffs she is so fond of.
Hu, London, England
A few days ago on Aljazeera, the alleged torturer of McCain in Vietnam told the interviewer that most injuries of McCain were from his plane accident, not from torture. With all the recent lies of McCain is this the ultimate one? Why is this not picked up by the mainstream media?
john pater, Penang, Malaysia
What's amzaing to me about this aritcle is how many Obama advisors are talking about him in this way. Doesn't he know how to keep his people in check. It's incredibly honest. But if the left thought Obama was really going to win. They inhabit more of LaLa land than I thought.
Yolanda, Hickory, US of A
I love Sarah Baxter's article. She proves that more women should have a voice in political analysis, because few of the talking heads -- who are losing all credibility, by the way, according to Rasmussen -- know what's going on. That includes Campbell Brown, Keith Olbermann, Charlie Gibson, etc.
Maria Houser Conzemius, Iowa City, USA
Palin's exclusive interview with C.Gibson of ABC on variety of international hot topics in youtube can scare the pants off Putin, and make Bin Laden excited in his cave while watching sideshows. At least Obama offers better chance for my survival in the next 4 years instead of being nuclear toasted.
Ed, London, England
The Times has always had an anti Obama agenda . When it became inevitable he was going to win the primary, they jumped on the Obama bandwagon, Now he's slightly behind, they are at it again, feeding us inaccurate information. Obama has a history of claiming victory from behind. Wait and see!!
Michael, London,
I don't know where the author gets the poll #s but the latest Ohio poll has Obama 52% to McCain 40%
david, new York, United States
If Obama is panicked by a mother of five from the sticks, what will he do when faced with ex-KGB agent Vladimir Putin? What a total wimp. A girl scared him off.
MaryJ, San Francisco, USA
Prepare now for a McCain/Palin landslide in Nov. because the mask is off the pretzel contortionist Obama, the radical feminists, and the hypocritcal democrat party. Thanks to Sara Palin for the unmasking, and to John McCain for the wisdom in choosing her.
Steven Swinney, Three Rivers, Ca., USA
The Democrats were certainly holding a beauty/celebrity contest over the last 18 months with Obama about to be handed the crown as he spoke in feel good generalities...then along came Palin and they now want to change it to an experience game, but Palin beats him there as well.
Dr Andris Lielmanis, Brampton, Canada
Abiout half the country thinks this woman is great and strongly support her. Her big TV interview showed her to be a know nothing who is the governor of a bunch of trees and polar bears. The thought that this woman could end up as president should strike fear in the heart of all thinking Americans.
Bruce L. Northwood, Silver Spring, USA
The Democrats' downfall will be that they have started believing their own propaganda.
Jon Maynard, Lansing MI, USA
Is it too late to repeal Suffrage?
Andy Zelinko, Irvine, CA
Obama is dumb for not putting Hillary on the ticket and I pray he loses for such arrogance. Had Hillary started the primary how she finished, she would be the next President. Tired of hearing ppl whine about America, are Europeans not our brothers?
ryan, Texas, USA
World, America still loves you and wants us with you. We do not want to see you go further down that socialistic path. We hope that one day you will embrace the ideals of the Republican party of hard work, self reliance, fiscal discipline, and self defence, so we can stop paying to defend you.
Sal, Erie, USA
Palin is a self reliant american pioneer. She connects with women and men who run homes, budgets and businesses.
Obama stands for slick self promotion, vague words about hope and change. His home was bought with vaguely crooked connections.
Trust? On your side? Right decision?
jo, london, UK
This is truly not a cynical question, do you have a lot of U.S. citizens writing into your publications to tell you how to vote? This is your publication and I appreciate the opportunity to post but I just could not presume to know enough about life in your country (any of you) to advise you.
Cindy, St. Johns, FL, USA
"Panic" is too strong. The post-Republican convention bounce is now disappearing as voters learn more about Sarah Palin. By the way, ALL Virginia voters register as independent since we have no party registration. Quoting someone at the Fairfax rally says nothing about the national independent vote.
Stephanie, Fairfax VA, USA
To John in the UK, You Brits can continue on your path of a socialistic nanny state, as for us Americans we will continue on our path of freedom from an overbearing and intrusive socialistic federal government. McCain and Palin haven't forgotten what true freedom requires. McCain/Palin '08!
UncleSam, Kennesaw, GA
Sorry I just don't understand??
How can you be a committed Democrat like Katherine Hoppe
CLAIMS to be yet be willing to vote for someone with almost dimetrically opposite political views and objectives, just because he picked a woman VP!!!!
Is this an election? or a BEAUTY contest?!?
a REAL democrat, Cassatt, USA
McCain said himself that he doesn't know how to send emails or use a computer. Knowledge has nothing to do with physical injuries.
STOP HIDING BEHIND YOUR P.O.W. EXPERIENCE, MCCAIN! BE A MAN.
McCain's platform: A noun, a verb, and POW.
Haile, Cleveland, USA
There is nothing quite like cutting British sense of humour to really shake the Americans up. They cannot cope with it. Just try a few mocking Brit jokes at a social gathering and see the smiles drop to the floor. American confidence is so thin and fragile. Like knocking skittles with a peashooter
Colin, Carmarthen, United Kingdom
Let John/Palin team win whitehouse! Let Peace prevail in world!
Jacob, DOHA, QATAR
Contrary to the suggestions in the article, there is no evidence that Hillary Clinton supporters are deserting to McCain/Palin in large numbers. "Hockey moms" are an entirely different demographic.
Krish, Oxford, UK
Tax cuts for 95%. Who are the 5% footing the bill?
If I lose 95% of my income I can't pay my bills, much less invest in anything.
Bring the rhetoric down to the kitchen table.
Negotiating w/terrorists isn't what's kept us safe since 9/11. Glasgow, London, Madrid, anyone?
Voted HRC. Voting McCain
Kate, Maryland, USA
We vote on the principles held by the candidate. Their record illuminates the principles better than their campaign rhetoric. Mr. Obama's record is thin and very left of the country. Ms. Palin's decisions, both personal and in office better reflect the core of the county.
Lon, Ocala, USA
This election I wanted to vote Democrat. As an Independent I was part of the group that gave the Dems their victories in 2006 due to my disgust with the Republican party.
I will vote McCain this year for 2 reasons
1. do not want 1 party super majority
2. Obama is a weak candidate, to say the least
David, warrington, USA
Oh yes, by all means, please be yourself Mr. Obama. Which self is another matter. The follower of the America damning preacher self, the Saul Alinsky community agitator self, the friend of convict Tony Resko self,the elitist whining to millionaire donors about the bitter folk self, so many selves.
Rosie Bumme, New England, USA
Oh my good lord. This is all such nonsense.
The one fact of the matter (pointed out many a tme on the only decent news source, The Daily Show) is that McCain has only Bush-cont policies, and his vp pick was cynical.
He is more of the same, she is arguably worse still
leo, Boredomeville, USA
Aside from the Palin bashing, the media hashing of possible indictment of Palinsand/or or husband and general trash job. Where was the other half of the Obama marriage during events honoring victims of 911.It appears everyone else was there?
bobbi, Oklahoma city, usa
"you negotiate with an enemy with your knee in his chest and your knife at his throat. "
This is the kind of rubbish that got the US into its unpopular state in the first place
larry, London,
If McCain had chosen a guy with Palin's credentials, I'd still think it to be unprofessional and, moreover, would be far more scathing in my own assertions. It's far more sexist, in the end, to pick a running mate for no other reason than she's a woman.
Leave her personal life alone, however..
Richie, Memphis, USA! USA! USA!
Alaska is isolated from the rest of the US, and bordered by Russia and Canada, making Gov. Palin unique among US governors, more like a President herself.
Alan, Greene, RI , US
America, the world still loves you and wants you with us. We do not want to see you isolated as you will do if you go down the narrow Republican path. There is serious despair and concern about Palin. We all share this world. One idea for Obama is Hillary for Secretary of State and Bill to the UN
john, Glasgiw, UK
If the Americans want to elect the party that messed up their country then that's fine. I'm losing my faith in their judgement quite frankly.
Alison, Cornwall,
it's really funny that so much is being said about Palin being a gun toting redneck and it being a bad thing. There is probably more gun toting rednecks in the United States than there are elitists that thing socialism is the wave of the future.
david , texas, us
Michigan polls show McCain now leading Obama. Also NV, and even NM, OH, FL, VA, MO, IN, & NC. Polls in WA show McCain within 2 points of Obama. Same in PA. Obama & the Democrats are mortally wounded and the mortally wounded. Media attacks on Palin highlights Obama's executive inexperience.
GeraldD, Moulton, USA
Mrs Palin may really resemble someone in the Thatcher mould and she is surely able to find simple words for winning the hearts of midwest moms, the big problem is her bellicose vision of the world may aggravate tensions between U.S. and other countries. Obama's team looks different in this.
Dmitry, Moscow,
fake or not fake- that is the question:
http://www.dagbladet.no/nyheter/2008/09/11/546570.html
sarahp, wassilia, alaska
Obama is spending precious amounts of time, money and energy trying to defeat the VP choice, NOT McCain.
This is akin to owning a bar/pub, then giving drinks away just so the establishment next door doesn't have any business.
It's obvious who woud go broke first and worst. McCain Wins!
David Fowler, Memphis, USA
She's a patsy for the Neo-Cons. She's a Creationist - how can any nation in it's right mind elect someone with such fundamentalist ideas? Oh. Sorry. I forgot. It IS America, after all!
Rowg, Zurich, Switzerland
We are awash in anti Palin smears in America. The web updates several times a day with increasingly bizarre hit pieces. During interviews, our haughty, elitist, mainstream news stars can barley contain their chauvinistic disdain. Thanks to the TIMESONLINE for this refreshingly objective article.
Karpy, Kingsland, GA, USA
Palin seems to be one step ahead of the media who are looking for ways of destorying her through her family. The story of her sons alleged drugs shows she cares for her family.She has done what any right thinking parent would do to help her son.My Grandfather did the same his son,came out a Major
Dave, Mold, UK
The issues will decide the election and not the personalities as Americans want strong leaders and at the present time Senator Obama is not showing he is a strong leader since he is off balance over a woman on the GOP ticket.
Gene, Gebüg, Germany
Hilary Clinton with all her perceived faults, beats Palin on all counts except looks. A classic case of cutting off your nose to spite your face for all these so called feminist activists.
Gabriel, Dublin, Ireland
The claim that Obama supported sex education for kids in Kindergarten is not false but true. It is available on tape from an interview. It is also true that Obama three times voted against saving the life of babies that survives abortion.
Andrew, Sacramento, USA
If America wants to lead the world as it is now ,selecting Obama would be better.This is because now it seems that day by day America is aielinating from countries and common people of the world because of so aggresive and intrugive policies that is being carried out for the past ten years.
Ephraim, Cochin, India
If anyone is panicking it's the Mccain campaign, they panicked after the DNC by picking Palin, a beauty pagent contestant, who has no command of foreign policy or economic issues. America should be panicking over this ticket!
amr, Miami,
Great news for those who want a weakened USA, a classic case of the enemy within or self destruction. Good luck to America
Gabriel, Dublin, Ireland
I hope all fair minded readers will join me in condemning the term Osama to refer to Obama. Mitchell, you're a cheap disgrace.
Johnny Clash, swansea, UK
voters don't seem to be able to distinguish from a great soccer mom and someone that is right to be vice president (and potentially president) of the world's most powerful nation. because she's a working mom she has this immunity...attack her and you attack every soccer mom in the country...
stephen, china, china
If America throws away its chance to re-unite with the world then it may as well build a wall around itself and throw away the key. This is its one chance to try to repair the damage of the last 8 years, the madness of warmongering and its tattered world image. It is a tragic thought
john, Glasgow , UK
Palin is just to good for them she has a vision of what she wants. She says what she means, she is in the Thatcher mould.
I wish we had someone like her in Britain.
Johnny Norfolk, Mileham Norfolk, England
“People still don’t know what Obama stands for. There’s a perceived elitism and something aloof about him."
That statement is so true. Obama oozes elitism. As for the aloofness; it's his pathetic attempt at concealing his core beliefs. Obama isn't fooling me and I'm in one of the Key (blue) States.
Frank, Pennsylvania, USA
Our American cousins are deeper than the cynics would have us believe.
Given the choice between these candidates, I am confident that the American people will elect a proven hero and an inspirational mother.
The other bloke ought to pit a pack on his back and walk from Atlantic to Pacific.
Joram Wilson, Hobart, Australia
Palin is not qualified. Her ignorance will bring nothing but destruction.
Jeff, Sacramento, CA, USA
YES..she is the celebrity now...I want a Palin hero doll.
Maybe Palin and Paris can do a reality show......
LISA, Thomasville, usa
The sex-ed charge is absolutely true, and the bill stated that the education institution would determine content. The bill is available to read and Obama voted for it, including an amendment to lower the starting point to kindergarten. The liberal media is frantically covering for Obama on this.
Kevin Finnerty, Atlanta, USA
It would be nice to finally have a woman in office...But considering the state of our union . I'm going for intelligence...Obama 08
LISA, Thomasville, usa
"Some conservatives are concerned that Republicans are overplaying the sexist card..an editor with the conservative journal National Review, complained: "
The National Review is Neo-Con and not Conservative! Neo-Cons are left-wing globalists. They are Republicans in Name Only (RINOS).
Tom, New Jersey, USA
Women who vote for Palin will voting against their own self-interest. If she and McCain win, they will appoint supreme court judges who deny women the right to choose. If she decides education policy, she will support programs that deny girls knowledge of contraception. Is this what women want?
LJ, New York, USA
It all seems so very strange, that smart inteligent people, could not see why Hillarious Clint was not picked as Osama's running mate.
But that is all fine-they can not cry now about sexism and Clinton being picked on.
Palin's pick was nothing short of "Political Brilliance."
"Mitch" Mitchell., Blue Haven,N.S.W., Australia.
Every newspaper should simply publish each campaign's proposals, point by point, in full, for how they would govern this country and why...? Let the candidates present their case for why they should be elected and let the people read and decide for themselves... And journalists shut up for a minute.
sutu, Calistoga,
If the Republicans win this election, mark my words, we're going to end up with World War III. McCain runs on an old-fashioned and now irrelevant style of foreign policy with the belief that the US alone has the right to shape and police the world, even with the growing power of China and Russia.
Ruob, Melbourne, Australia
Will Palin's lies go unquestioned? She claimed to have visited troops in Iraq. Turns out she was on the border, but never went into Iraq. She wants to ban books but how many has she ever read? She's making George Bush look like an intellectual.
Eric Miami, Miami, FL, USA
The Problem Obama is having is nothing sticks to Palin.
Abortion issue - doesn't stick because she is against abortion but is not pushing laws to ban it. It is not on her priority list.
TrooperGate - the trooper used a taser on a 10 year old. Earmarks - governors go for earmarks it is expected.
Steve, Bala Cynwyd,
SHE WILL MAKE A GOOD VP FOR MCcain if Obama don't get it
anna ruth atha, dante,VA, USA
Is America really this stupid? How can anyone vote for McCain/.Palin...John Mc Cain is old and looks older than his years...His 96 year old mother looks younger than he....If Mc Cain is elected President and dies in office Sarah (Redneck) Palin will be President...Is this what America wants?
jessie sweeney, Portland, Me, USA
Democrats never understand you have to run the candidate you choose, they keep running losers. Obama's support for abortion rights is the most extreme of any Democratic senator. In the Illinois legislature he refused to join Democrats and Republicans in supporting a bill that would require doctors to provide medical care for babies who survived abortions. No one in the US Senate - not the arch feminist Hillary Clinton nor the super-liberal Edward Kennedy - opposed this humane measure.
Amad Shaff, Beverly Hills , USA
Palin is a breath of fresh air. She's an accomlished governor, with an over 80 percent approval rating. She stacks up on her own favorably against Obama. She has signficant administrative experience. He has none. And she's extremely personable. I can understand why Obama is in panic.
Joseph Kelley, Lancaster, USA
As an Obama supporter, I am furious over this newfound excitement for more Republicanism. I had faith that the American people would see through this ploy to get to female, white working class voters. Wake up! Really, truly, ask yourself if life has improved for you in the last 4 years. Not for me!
Max, Los Angeles, USA
Those Hillary supporters that are now for McCain are demonstrating clearly that it was not her platform that they cared about, but merely her gender alone. Go ahead, put the women's rights effort back thirty years, be vengeful, hysterical, and completely illogical. The old boys love you for it. Ha!
John, San Diego,
John McCain may well have learned to negotiate "with a knife at the throat," but that's something he clearly learned from the 2000 election. He didn't fight back much when George Bush henchmen savaged him with lies and innuendo then, did he?
Michael, New York, USA
You should worry, worry, worry, people who hijacked my Democratic party back in the 80's! The real working class hero wants nothing to do with this limousine liberals' party anymore. Have you seen the bumper stickers & t-shirts that read "I'm voting for Sarah Palin & what's-his-name?"
Patrick, Sanford, USA
Kerri - Where did you read that quote from the Obama adviser? Please post a link or a source. I'm just very curious.
Michelle , Dubuque , USA
Nice to read an article that isn't negatively biased towards Governor Palin. The democratic? party's arrogance might just cost them the election. Governor Palin is like a breath of fresh air. I wish her well.
gail, benicia, usa
Looks like Hurricane Sarah is going to do to America what Katrina did to New Orleans.
Paul, Chapel Hill, USA
Obama did not know Russia had UN veto power Energy is the issue of our time as regards Standard of Living.Palin knows more about energy than anyone in the race.Alaska is about the same as Delaware(Biden) in population.Palin #2 on ticket is more qualified than Obama #1.McCains mom is 95!
bill blount, bartow florida, USA
Please do not compare this fraud to Xena. Xena was a strong woman who was in favor of women, unlike Palin, who wants to take their rights away. I've met Lucy Lawless, who played Xena. She is not an American citizen, but I can guarantee you if she was, she would NOT be voting for McCain/Palin.
Annie, Dallas,
I am sick to think that Americans are this superficial & stupid. I would like someone smarter than me to be a heartbeat away from the presidency. I do not understand how women can just support Palin because she is a woman w/no regard for what she stands for or how little experience she has.
Pam, Poulsbo, USA
Oh my gods, did an Obama advisor REALLY say, "Our mistake was thinking women had no where else to go?" !!!!
TRULY THIS IS CHANGE!
I'll tell you, I don't vote for Mccain OR Pailin because they represent ANYTHING I stand for: instead, I vote for them so the Democratic party, MY PARTY appologizes
Kerri, Central Islip, USA
Clyta,
Alaska is NOT the smallest population in the union, it ranks 47th, and has only 181,000 fewer residents than does Joe Biden's Delaware, so what is your point?
Biden is one of two representatives of 864,000 in Delaware whereas Palin governs all 683,000 Alaskans.
Will, Phoenix,
Welcome to Sarah Palin, but i would like her to announce her situation towards the foundation of a Palestinian state, a step that would much help peace settlement in the middle east.
We all want to live in peace, the future rulers of the USS is so important for that
tamer abdeldayem, alexandria, egypt
Too bad we can't get decent articles like this in the States. The media over here is so in the tank for Obama that they have lost all journalistic credibility. Palin has been vetted more in a couple weeks than Obama has in all the time he has been running for President. Thanks!!
Judy, Cedar Rapids, USA
Oh good grief... POW is excuse for everything, and mother of a disabled child, and pregnant minor is Palin's excuse for everything. Can the REAL VP and Pres candidates please step forward? The McCain tactics and media love affair with this delusion is beginning to make this election a mockery.
Nik, Windsor,
I think McCain would make a great president.. Of Iraq.
Ed, Jefferson, usa
Fighter pilots survive by obeying one rule: you negotiate with an enemy with your knee in his chest and your knife at his throat.
You don't acquire that mindset in Columbia or Harvard Law.
Until Obama can appreciate how cunning and indefatigable John McCain is, he has no real shot in this race.
John Carpenter, New York, New york
Sure - picking Hillary might have made it easier for Obama to be elected. On the other hand, it would have made it almost impossible for him to govern, what with dual VPs Hill and Bill looking over his shoulder. And after Palin's unimpressive first interview, her luster may soon start to fade.
Marian, Indianapolis , USA
Brad - the sex ed ad is nothing but a complete lie. In fact, most of the recent McCain ads have been proven to contain deliberately misleading information or flat-out lies. Yes, all candidates use "spin" to deliver their message, but McCain has taken it to a new low. I hope he's called on it.
Sandra, Sacramento, USA
Brad, To teach 5 year olds that their "private parts" are private and should not be touched by others is appropriate and necessary. It is a child protection issue and it is my understanding that this is what was being taught.
Suzy Owens, Sydney, Australia
Palin is in WAY over her head---just give her time. She'll put her foot in her mouth. Being Governor of the smallest population in the Union for a year & 1/2 is no preparation for the White House. She's a pretty, popular, smart-cracking gal who has not earned her position. Real women know better
Clyta Dillon, Wolf Point, USA
Great article! As the senior advisor hints at, the Democrats need to stop believing their own propaganda that they alone represent women, and that women are all victims. Powerful Republican women like Palin, Hutchison, Meg Whitman, and Carly Fiorina tell a different, more appealing story.
Laura, Boston, USA
"Treating her unfairly"? Has anyone heard this candidate answer quesitons? I have to wonder why people want to elect an individual that is "just like them". Frankly, I want someone who is smarter than me. Do we really want another George Bush, female version?
K, Minneapolis, USA
If this is what the majority of American voters wants is four more years of Republicans, bring it on. But I am concerned about health care, jobs, education, etc. and I'm hearing those issue discussed by the Republicans.
Ashlye, Raleigh, USA
I'd never have dreamed that a 44-yr. old woman from arguably the most frigid state in the union & someone whose favorite dish is moose stew would send the super-sophisticated Obama presidential campaign into a full-bore panic; obviously she connects with most voters &, with McCain, is poised to win.
mark mitchell, simi valley, ca.,
You left the best for almost last.
Obama's ad mocking McCain's supposed lack of computer skills just because he can't type due to war injuries will be the final nail in his coffin.
Douglas, New York, USA
African American support for Obama is nearly universal. To the Democrats, that's a just-fine situation.
By the same token, a good many women are favorably inclined towards Governor Palin principally she and they are of the same gender.
In this case, the Dumbocrats see things in a totally different light, e.g., such women are obviously demented and/or hopelessly uninformed.
v. gates, Bandera, TX, USA
A fair and comprehensive column that gets right to the point. Congratulations!
Karol, Scottsdale , USA
I'm over it. Let Rockefeller decide.
Mayan Fox, Richmond,
An Alaskan speaks Out,
I did not vote for Palin, as Governor of my home state . I am a lifetime 48 yr.old, Alaskan Native woman,educated and aware . I can tell the difference between lies and truths.Actions speak lounder than words.
Edith , Eagle River, Alaska
Uh, the record clearly shows that Obama DID support sex education for 5 years olds. The media is now pointing to a phrase in the bill that says 'appropriate' . If you think there is appropirate sex education for 5 year olds, that is fine, but it is still in the bill.
Brad Jensen, Tulsa, Oklahoma, USA