Sarah Palin is definitely not a pig or fish
What Obama said today about pigs and lipstick was not only very cheap but also very distasteful. What was he thinking? He has the audacity to go down that road. It is definitely a low point in American politics. The Obama campaign is calculating that it must reckon with Palin and the big public boost she has provided McCain in the past week. When Palin was first named, the Obama staff attacked, then he pulled back. Now, reflecting the threat posed by Palin, Obama is taking the unusual route of attacking the opposition’s No. 2, a job that would more typically be left to Biden, who focused more on McCain and President Bush.
The new tone is not without risk for the Democratic ticket. It’s hard to take down an opponent without appearing overly or overtly partisan. It’s also unusual to appear so focused on your opponent’s running mate – and not the nominee himself.
But it is very unusual, if not unprecedented, for a vice presidential pick to dominate a campaign in a sustained manner the way Palin has. And there is good reason to believe it won’t end anytime soon.
Let’s start with the media’s obsession with her. She is a fascinating “first” for the media to dissect: a female Republican vice presidential nominee with celebrity appeal. She is only beginning a string of media interviews – and continues to draw crowds McCain never could. Expect a flood of coverage off her two day interview with ABC’s Charlie Gibson this week.
What Obama said today about pigs and lipstick was not only very cheap but also very distasteful. What was he thinking? He has the audacity to go down that road. It is definitely a low point in American politics. The Obama campaign is calculating that it must reckon with Palin and the big public boost she has provided McCain in the past week. When Palin was first named, the Obama staff attacked, then he pulled back. Now, reflecting the threat posed by Palin, Obama is taking the unusual route of attacking the opposition’s No. 2, a job that would more typically be left to Biden, who focused more on McCain and President Bush.
The new tone is not without risk for the Democratic ticket. It’s hard to take down an opponent without appearing overly or overtly partisan. It’s also unusual to appear so focused on your opponent’s running mate – and not the nominee himself.
But it is very unusual, if not unprecedented, for a vice presidential pick to dominate a campaign in a sustained manner the way Palin has. And there is good reason to believe it won’t end anytime soon.
Let’s start with the media’s obsession with her. She is a fascinating “first” for the media to dissect: a female Republican vice presidential nominee with celebrity appeal. She is only beginning a string of media interviews – and continues to draw crowds McCain never could. Expect a flood of coverage off her two day interview with ABC’s Charlie Gibson this week.
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