@Cycloptichorn,
It's an interesting strategy from the McCain Camp. They are taking a lot of risks these days. Speaking strategically, I guess they are kind of forced to if they want to stay in.
My impression I get from tonight, is that McCain is pushing Palin to solidify the base and he's is going to go after the moderates. This is potentially a good choice for him because she is not going to fair well against Biden in the debates. The goal for her now will be to simply go crowd please the base and be as partisan as she likes. no matter how poor her answers are, Biden will have to restrain himself from burying her too hard.
It seems my prediction is coming to fruition with some slight differences. It seems that McCain is okay with losing the appeal of moderates at the gain of his base. He is now gambling on getting some back in the last leg of the trip by posturing as the McCain of old.
The McCain narrative is a powerful one, and republicans are wise to use it, but I wonder what the effectiveness is to basically give the same speeches night after night? McCain's campaign adviser has said this is "not about the issues." Despite the criticisms that Obama runs a campaign or personality, he's reinforcing this notion every day with his always changing message.
I expect McCain to sound very moderate tomorrow. No more narative on war. More echoing of Liberman's speech. Basically, I'd wager that he's going to go after moderate viewers attention now that he's grabbed his base.
The downside of Palin as a pick has begun to play out in terms of her experience. The discussion has evolved around comparing her experience to Obama's. The dialog is mostly put forth by popular media because it makes a good story, but it's one that McCain wants control of. He wants to be on offense not defense.
In general, I'm really trying to understand what the republican message is? It started out with "America First" and how they were such transcendent individuals, and today it was hyper partisan lip service.
Romney spoke about promiscuity in High Schools and damned the unions on the same night Palin speaks? The irony is lost on these people.
In Short: Palin did what she needed to do which was to rally the base with a sharp-toothed speech. Her tone may get her in some trouble, but I'm sure the McCain camp is ready to spin the blow back of if their lazy just cry foul on the media.
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