Frankly, I’ve never subscribed to the idea that Vice-Presidential running mates have a significant impact on Presidential elections unless, of course, they are named Lyndon Johnson and able to deliver certain voting districts in Texas on Election Day.
However, there seems to be some indication that Sarah Palin is hurting John McCain in the polls:
[T]he McCain-Palin campaign attributes all of Sen. McCain’s gravity in recent polls to the economy. But new Quinnipiac and Pew polls provide evidence to the contrary. Specifically, Pew finds that 51% of Americans now believe that Palin is unqualified, up from 37% after her announcement. (Pew’s Andrew Kohut writes: “There is a clear correlation between views of Palin’s qualifications and support for McCain, which may be hurting the GOP candidate. Fewer people see her as qualified to become president, and the balance of opinion toward Palin has grown more negative since early September.”)
(…)
Quinnipiac’s latest set of swing states polls finds Palin with a net negative impression in several states, including Florida, where she’s spent quite a bit of campaign time. The numbers in Florida are stunning, in a sense; there’s been a net swing of 13 points in Obama’s favor during the past two weeks. He’s even competitive among white voters, with McCain besting him by only five points.
Given that a few percentage points in states like Ohio and Florida are likely to decide this election, that’s not good news for McCain at all.
Palin could not possibly have been vetted properly. There is so much about her that is unsavory. This Ethics ordeal was not her first. She has a history of not talking to reporters or allowing her staff to speak with them. She has a history of hiring those who have done her favors, high school friends etc.
She did indeed say in 2007 she was not up on the Iraq War but heard on the news of new deployments and even though she backed the administration she wanted an Exit Plan. This is contrary to McCain and the Generals downrange who say stay til the job is done. Won’t even go into the damage that pulling out without stability would do.
She did ILLEGALLY put a bounty on wolves in 2007 requiring the showing of the front forepaws to collect the $150. This added incentive was given to the state sanctioned airborne wolf hunters. She allowed them to pull mother wolves and pups out of their dens and be slaughtered. All this stopped by Alaska State Court Alaska Wildlife Alliance. She also allowed the killing of black bear sows and their cubs, first time in Alaska.
Due to poor economics she left Wasilla as Mayor in 2002 20 million in debt. Not good. No Romney here.
In 1998 she asked all the managerial team to resign to show their loyalty to her administration. What is that? What kind of thinking?
She lost her bid for Lt Govenor and finally won Govenorship with help of big money which she attempted to repay with favors.
She did not sell the plane on E-Bay she sold it to someone who supported and helped her win the election.
She only recently, before being called to be the VP, gave every Alaskan, rich and poor 3,200 dollars this brought her approval ratings up to 63% Just in the nick of time.
This is a smooth operator and every bit as dirty as any Politician around. She replaced the “Good Ole Boy” system with a “Good Ole Girl”.
I am not impressed and angry that I must vote for McCain with her on the ticket. Under no circumstances is she ready to be VP or sit in the Commander in Chiefs seat if necessary. I am appaled that McCain went this direction thinking he could pull Clinton voters in. No way. Clinton voters are not known for little ankles, lots of make-up and playing cutesy with the cameras. As for Republican women, I think with my brain, research my candidates and make my decisions on the findings.
I will say that after McCain is elected I will do everything in my power to see to it that this woman never becomes President of America and goes back to the Tundra where she can raise the 5 children she brought into the world, take care of her newborn with problems and be there for her 17 yr old who can not possibly get through this without a strong family.
From what I have read much of Alaska, a state with less than 700,000 and 1.1 person to every 100 miles really does not care if we keep her. Yes Yes and Yes she has hurt McCain but unfortunately many will vote for him while holding our noses.