The Republican Convention, Minneapolis, Minnesota
Word that Sarah Palin is to become a grandmother, aged 44, is spreading rapidly through Minneapolis. Should it matter? James says no, but personally I can’t see how it can avoid being an issue. Just three days ago, Palin was on a stage introducing her entire family to America. The system here involves the candidates invading their own privacy to an extent unheard of in Britain. The tradition of spousal speeches strikes Brits as bizarre and it is tough to work out where the line is drawn between political and private life. Character is king in American politics, and voters like every metric they can get to gauge character.
Is this damaging? It raises Palin even higher in my estimation. It is easy to be against abortion in theory. But she walks the talk, both in having her Down syndrome baby and in offering her teenage daughter every support when she became pregnant.
Perhaps the most important issue in all this is whether McCain knew. A senior Republican has just told me that he didn’t, but Team McCain have told Reuters that he did. I’m inclined to believe them. A grandchild due on inauguration day is not something you can very well hide.
Obama had best tread very carefully on this issue. The blogosphere has hosted wild rumours about this, but that is the environment we’re in now. Any hint of mud slinging from the Democrats would be very dangerous.
All told, if this is the only surprise about the lightly-vetted Palin, McCain needn’t worry.
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