Sarah Palin takes to the stage propelled by a deafening roar from the
5,000-strong crowd packed into a sports hall in downtown Columbus. She
waves, neatly beehived, immaculate in red blazer and heels, and points to
the crowd, widening her eyes, pushing the rapturous reception up another
notch. “Sarah! Sarah!” they chant, waving placards that read “Palin Power”
and “Country First”.
Behind her, smiling and nodding, trails a small, grey-haired man who may be
the next President.
The Republican vice-presidential nominee has just come through the week from
hell: her lack of expertise on important policy issues has been ruthlessly
exposed in a series of interviews, in which she had waffled and squirmed.
She has been pilloried, satirised and dismissed, even by conservative
commentators, as “out of her league”.
This is the Alaska Governor's last campaign appearance before the biggest test
of her political life, the debate in St Louis with her rival, Joe Biden. She
is expected to lose.
Yet Mrs Palin's first act on the stage in Ohio is to lower expectations
further. “I have to admit Joe Biden's a great debater, and he looks pretty
doggone confident, like he's sure he's going to win.” Then a zinger: “I've
been hearing his speeches since I was, like, in the second grade.”
This ecstatic crowd does not care that Mrs Palin believes Alaska's proximity
to Russia is proof of her foreign policy expertise, nor that she can name
only one Supreme Court ruling, nor that she falters when questioned about
the Middle East, healthcare or the economy. They love her for her
extraordinary ordinariness, her winsome aw-shucks charm, her simple
conservative views and her repeated references to local sports teams.
Mona Randal, who has come all the way from Cleveland for the rally, shouts
above the reverberating noise: “I just reckon she's a real person, unlike
them Washington politicians.”
That is Mrs Palin's most powerful weapon, and it is one that she will use
ruthlessly in tonight's debate. Patronised by commentators, “victimised” by
the media, vilified by liberal bloggers, she is in a remarkably strong
strategic position: one word of condescension from Senator Biden, and her
support will rocket.
Mrs Palin's life story is exceptional, but one that millions of Americans can
immediately relate to: the self-made woman from the small town, mother and
wife, beauty pageant competitor, hunter and provider, and now an intensely
polarising force in American politics, from Mayor to Governor to
vice-presidential candidate at the age of 44.
Even John McCain seems slightly stunned by the reaction. “This is a level of
excitement and enthusiasm, frankly, that I haven't seen before. I'd like to
attribute it to me, but ...” From the moment he begins to speak, one feels
the excitement begin to dissipate.
The latest polls show that while most voters think that Mr Biden will win
tonight's debate, an overwhelming majority believe that Mrs Palin will
emerge as the more likeable person. Such is her grip on the popular
imagination, both positive and negative, that this is expected to be the
most widely watched vice-presidential debate yet.
Mrs Palin may be new to the national arena, but she is an experienced and
effective debater. Before becoming Governor of Alaska she went through a
dozen televised debates: her male rivals consistently underestimated her and
were consistently wrong-footed and then defeated.
Favouring soundbites over developed arguments, she carried coloured cue-cards
to remind herself of her views and verbally trod water when out of her
depth. Yet she was also confident, poised and telegenic: rather than address
her rivals or the debate moderator, she tended to speak directly to the
camera.
Perhaps her strongest debating skill is the ability to turn general questions
into personal stories: when discussing environmental issues, she recalls how
her daughter Bristol was named after Alaska's Bristol Bay; she will talk of
the high price of petrol, and the challenges of raising a large family while
running for office.
Mrs Palin is most comfortable, and most formidable, on home ground, and that
is where she will attempt to fight tonight's debate. But the potential
perils for Mrs Palin are huge. She has given not one press conference since
becoming a candidate, and only a handful of controlled interviews, some of
which have contained moments of excruciating embarrassment: cornered on a
subject she knows nothing about, her voice rises to a shrill bat-squeak and
she plays for time, trotting out meaningless verbiage. Her facial expression
can swiftly slip from feisty and combative to rabbit-in-the-headlights
terror.
Her last rally before going into two days of intensive debate-preparation at
Mr McCain's Arizona ranch was itself an opportunity to rehearse the sort of
direct emotional connection to voters she will emphasise tonight.
“A full tank of gas seems like a luxury these days,” she said, pressing one
important button. “Between us, we have three sons in the military,” she
added, pressing another, to a fresh wave of cheering. Even her form of
language is pure Middle American. Her husband is “my guy”. Her speech is
peppered with down-home Americanisms: “heck”, “shoot”, “aw gee”.
As the going gets tougher, Mrs Palin gets slangier: pressed by an interviewer
to provide specific examples, she will respond: “I'll try to find you some
and I'll bring 'em to ya.”
“I feel like I've known her all my life,” Mrs Randal said after Mrs Palin and
Mr McCain left the stage.
A few weeks ago Mrs Palin was almost unknown outside Alaska; she has since
been hailed as the McCain saviour, and then attacked as a liability; an
ingénue unfit for office.
In her first - and only - debating appearance she knows that she must
recapture the excitement of her speech to the Republican Convention, and
that means sinking her teeth into Mr Biden, with a smile.
She is the underdog: her best hope is to show that this particular underdog,
beneath the lipstick, is still a pitbull.
Palin v Biden
Palin game plan:
Expectations Low, after several days of gaffe-ridden interviews
Aims To make personal contact with voters even if she is no policy
expert
Tactics Refer complex questions to simple truths of small-town life: he
makes speeches in Washington, while she makes babies in Wasilla
Reasons to be worried “As for that VP talk all the time, I’ll tell you,
I still can’t answer that question until somebody answers for me what is it
exactly that the VP does every day?” (CNBC, July 2008)
Biden game plan:
Expectations More people think he will “win”, but this windy and
pugnacious orator needs to hone his answers to fit a tight debate format
that limits responses to 90 seconds
Aims Not to be seen to be condescending and not to bully
Tactics If he has to be aggressive, he should target McCain, not Palin
Reasons to be worried “When the stock market crashed, Franklin D.
Roosevelt got on the television and didn’t just talk about the, you know,
the princes of greed. He said, ‘look, here’s what happened’.” (September 22,
2008. Television did not exist at the time and Roosevelt was not president)
Rob,right. There is a difference in running a small state and being senator. You are ultimately responsible for your decisions. As a senator for 3 decades Mr Biden & his cronies compete for hot air space. Hasn't this latest Bill shown you that? P.S. Do you really think leaders are smarter than us?
Patricia, Oklahoma City, United States
The format of the debate seems rather shallow. How can anyone answer a question in any amount of detail beyond empty rhetoric in 90 seconds?
It is an insult to the American voters' intelligence that they are thought unable to follow a line of argument for longer than an average TV advertisement.
Daniel, Belfast,
Sarah Palin is what this country needs. Why? She DOESN'T know all the Washington Insiders, and won't be swayed by their antics. She knows the needs of the AMERICAN FAMILY and wants American tax $ to stay in AMERICA to help AMERICANS. The last US president to be qualified was George Washington.
Karen, Cheswick, USA
Palin could be the poster girl for " Leave No Child Behind" as an example of one who was. And maybe that is why when she was mayor she charged rape victims for medical care and rape kits. As she explained, " It saved the taxpayers a lot of money." Isn't that being a little bit sexist? Or was it more about the morning after pill she objected to which reflects on her stand that opposes any form of abortion including rape or incest?
Gery Bargen, Medford, United States
I am astonished and very dissapointed in McCain's pick for VP. She is so very unqualified. It was bad enough we put Bush in office for two straight terms. We must really look like a nation of idiots!
Hariette, Charlotte, NC, USA
Rather frightning that after the disaster of "Folksy" Bush, the Americans seem keen on embracing someone clearly even less prepared for the Whitehouse than he was. The current economic state of America is too critical to start indulging novelty politicians like Palin.
B. Cairns, Osnabruck, Germany
I hope Republicans lose the election for selecting such a running mate. Granted ordinary people may not trust their intelligent and smart counterparts but surely the republican party has a duty to protect the US interests in the world by nominating competent candidates.
Ambrose, Jersey, UK
Oh Dear. She may be prettier than the other candidate but how can anybody justify her being a potential vice president?
Chris, reading,
Mr.Biden is very experienced debator. Unfortunately for Sarah Palin, I dont think this debate will lend itself to cute soundbites. Solid facts is whats going to win this debate for either candidate. I do not think Ms. Palin have enought facts at her fingertips to convince voters that she is ready.
Pem, Diego Martin, Trinidad
To John from Atlanta
maybe its narrow minded individuals like yourself who are not ready for an African American president.
If Ms.Palin, as you have stated represents the majority of Americans, which I fear may be true, then by God I hope Mr. Obama becomes president,bcause the world needs better
Pem, Diego Martin, Trinidad
All the very best conmen/conwomen are extremely adept at a form of hypnosis whereby they mimic the accents and mannerisms of the "mark".
"I reckon shes a REAL person", "I feel like I've known her all my life".
Gotcha.
John, Cleggan, Ireland
Palin has political talent but no policy expertise - you need someone with the latter as a VP e.g. someone who has been involved with national and int'l policy e.g. in the Senate. Washington experience is a necessary evil. Leave Palin where she is and appoint her Minister for Motherhood & Apple Pie
MB, Edinburgh,
The people do have the right to expect our leaders to surround themselves with the brightest, most informed and capable advisers available. The people also have the obligation to select leaders who are wise and willing to take the best advise the experts have to offer and with that advise make logi
RICHARD, FRANKSTON,
What qualifications are necessary to be president? I can take each president for the last 60 years and show areas where their knowledge was sketchy. And don't get me started on one horrible mistake after another each have made. But OBAMA is the LEAST qualified of all. And you all know it.
Donna, San Jose, CA, USA
I predicted she would become a figure of total ridicule and I was right, again
peter c, Devizes, Wessex
To John from Atlanta: 'An African American President is not on the card'
Why is skin pigmentation an issue? Would your views towards Ms Pail and Mr McCain alter if they spent a lot more time on tanning beds?
Is darkening you skin in America only acceptable to the point of 'bronzed'?
Emma Norman, Munich, Germany
Just because someone is likeable, dosn't make them competent...
Tom, Hull, England
In 2000, an "average" guy who admitted he's not the brightest one in the room but talked about restoring dignity and honesty to the White House won over the cerebral Al Gore. Result: Disaster. Why do so many Americans think repeating the formula is a good idea? I want a President brighter than I am!
Ann Feeney, Chicago, USA
i am not saying she knows nothing about foreign affairs but when asked where wales was on the world map she replied ,,,,,in the sea between russia and alaska
andy, surrat, thailand
John, You've got to be kidding. Tell me why you think she will make a good president in the event of McCains death. She doesn't even know what the Supreme Court does.
Nanc, Saint Paul,
Wow Have alot of you learned nothing in thw Past 8 years?Bush was a down to earth guy you would want to drink a beer with many said.Palin is Down to earth and says things like
Quote
Her speech is peppered with down-home Americanisms: “heck”, “shoot”,
Wake up America
Andre Turner, Kirkland, USA
Its commendable that she can skin and gut out a moose in thirty minutes....,BUT.
George, Auckland, New Zealand
Rhetorically asking what the VP does is a joke that the author apparently missed. In the US it's well-known that the VP's duties are largely ceremonial and amount to less than a hill of beans, as the saying goes. Nex
Alan, San Diego, USA
Sarah Palin is best thing that has ever happened to America.
An African American President is not on the card the majority ordinary citizens. We are not ready for onenow and not in twenty years. Meaningless verbiage is the best description of Joe Biden speeches.
John, Atlanta , GA
To, rose, norwalk, usa
There is a difference running a small state and dealing with issues all over the work.... most of which cant relate to her small town past..... a vote for palin is a vote based on image not substance and not in the best intrests of the US people..... or the world!
Rob, London,
Don't be surprised to see Palin not only win the debate, but the election also.( It will be her, not John McCain who wins.)
After all, look who we put into the oval office 2 last times !
This country is no longer known for it's intelligence.
Jack, Rochester, USA
Such disrespect towards good people on these public forums. It's one thing to have your strong opinion- but come on- your opinion at the expense of others really just shows yourself weak- along with your party. Palin is really a hard-working, honest, and educated woman-time will continue to tell.
Brenda Lukas, Williamsport, PA, USA
Trial by the Media - is irrelevant.
None of us is qualified to be President .
What we all want is a level of trust in the decision making qualities of our leader.
(US) Media sucks - we can make up our own minds without you.
As an old guy who has been around, I'm for Palin all the way.
Richard, Stanstead Abbotts,
America and American cannot blame the world for the accusation that they are an irresponsible country. If you put a "normal" person the the high office of the world most powerful country", how would we expect a normal life after all. How many innocent lives will be lost in the name of war on terror?
Lammag, Berlin,
Rose,
As much as sentimental small town notions appeal to you, running the country is incomparably more difficult than raising a family. Regardless of whether Mrs Palin connects with you as a "feminine presence", she needs to be clued up as to the workings of the world. Face it, she just isn't.
Sam Roberts, Shanghai, China
It sounds like a good idea to have a VP who is really very "normal". But I think that person must have the understanding to be able to wisely wield the enormous power they will have; otherwise they will become corrupted or exploited by it. Even if she wins a debate, she is not ready to be VP.
Robert, New York, USA
Look up Sarah Palin on youtube. Then you will see why Obama is the only option!!!!!!
James, Paris, France
So Republicans don't care that Palin knows nothing about: foreign policy, the economy, healthcare system or the US' landmark legal rulings. So how exactly is this woman qualified for the job? Oh right, because she's 'one of us', and she's not incompetent, it's just a liberal conspiracy. Oh. Dear.
Thom James, Auckland,
Sarah is the feminine presence that can return us to our honor and dignity. She is a practical, no nonsense - homespun reality worth waking up to. McCain showed his courage and vision in selecting her. Her instincts are sound and she is the true outsider.
rose, norwalk, usa
If Sarah Palin is ready to hold the second highest office in our country, why does Joe Biden have to go easy on her for fear of being a bully or condescending? She, as a woman running for this high office, should not seek special treatment. Would Biden go easy on a male opponent? I think not!
Dianne Johnson, Davis, USA