Like most people, I guess, I’m still coming to terms with John McCain’s decision to select a running-mate young enough to be his wife.
Sarah Palin is not the pick I would have predicted. But, what a coup de theatre! Who’s that Obama fellow? What was that speech he gave last night?
Some of the smartest conservatives I read – Noah Millman, Ross Douthat – declare themselves excited. That counts for something. And, indeed, from what we’ve seen of her today, there’s clearly considerable upside to the pick. Apart form anything else, it gives some “buzz” to a McCain campaign that was beginning to seem prickly, thin-skinned and bad-termpered. It needed a lift, a lightness and a spark. This may be it. (She’s probably also better on guns and drugs than anyone else on either ticket…)
However, hoe how (thanks commenter Craig) often does a running-mate really (and I mean really) help you win? I expect McCain will get a better post-Veepstakes bounce with Palin than Obama did with Biden.

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