Obama/Biden vs. McCain/Palin

[Socnorb11]

McCain's choosing her shows me just how desperate they are.

How so?

Pick based completely on what they feel they need to swing certain demographics. I can't possibly believe that this is the pick that McCain feels most comfortable with. Does he even know her?

Can't you make that same argument about Biden, though? He's exactly the type of candidate that they would want/need to have to bite into the rust belt votes that they had the potential to lose because of Hillary's loss in the primary.

You could make the argument that he picked him because he's got the experience and has a lot of foreign policy credentials under his belt but you could also make the argument that he was (at least one of) the best choices to fill the spot (based on those same credentials).

McCains pick, on the other hand, was obviously based entirely on the fact that he's got to find a way to steal millions and millions of votes outside his own party and the only way he could possibly do that was with a completely untraditional pick. I have nothing against him picking a woman but I do have something against him picking someone based entirely on the fact that she's young and she's a woman. You can't possibly argue that she's as qualified as Biden for the spot.

One would think that Biden will eat her alive in the debates on policy and experience, won't he?

[TimeForGuinness]

McCain's choosing her shows me just how desperate they are.

How so?

Pick based completely on what they feel they need to swing certain demographics. I can't possibly believe that this is the pick that McCain feels most comfortable with. Does he even know her?

Pretty much where I'm at. Is she REALLY the most qualified person? It seems pretty obvious that McCain is trying to pick up Hilary votes.

Does ANYBODY know her?

CNN website already has this poll up: Will Sen. McCain's choice of Sarah Palin as a running mate snag Sen. Clinton's supporters?

No real mystery why he'd pick her.

Sure it might be to pick up some Republican voters, but as a Republican, I'm very excited about her political stances and policies as governor in Alaska. She brings a lot more to the table than a lot of the other candidates just by being a fresh face and having a reputation as a cost cutter, smaller government, ethics-oriented republican.

She'll be a popular choice, I think, and bring a lot of energy and excitment to McCain's campaign.

...but does she have enough experience?

[Leroy]

McCain's choosing her shows me just how desperate they are.

How so?

Pick based completely on what they feel they need to swing certain demographics. I can't possibly believe that this is the pick that McCain feels most comfortable with. Does he even know her?

Can't you make that same argument about Biden, though? He's exactly the type of candidate that they would want/need to have to bite into the rust belt votes that they had the potential to lose because of Hillary's loss in the primary.

You could make the argument that he picked him because he's got the experience and has a lot of foreign policy credentials under his belt but you could also make the argument that he was (at least one of) the best choices to fill the spot (based on those same credentials).

McCains pick, on the other hand, was obviously based entirely on the fact that he's got to find a way to steal millions and millions of votes outside his own party and the only way he could possibly do that was with a completely untraditional pick. I have nothing against him picking a woman but I do have something against him picking someone based entirely on the fact that she's young and she's a woman. You can't possibly argue that she's as qualified as Biden for the spot.

I don't know, it can go back and forth. You could say Obama isn't as qualified as McCain as well.

I guess the best thing would have been to pick someone strong on the economy, and that might be Mitt...and I can't stand Mitt.

[wart57]

A black man running with an old white man vs an old white man running with a younger woman. U.S. Politics sure has come a long way in the last few years.

[JL21]

You could make the argument that he picked him because he's got the experience and has a lot of foreign policy credentials under his belt but you could also make the argument that he was (at least one of) the best choices to fill the spot (based on those same credentials).

McCains pick, on the other hand, was obviously based entirely on the fact that he's got to find a way to steal millions and millions of votes outside his own party and the only way he could possibly do that was with a completely untraditional pick. I have nothing against him picking a woman but I do have something against him picking someone based entirely on the fact that she's young and she's a woman. You can't possibly argue that she's as qualified as Biden for the spot.

That's fair and I certainly don't mean to argue that she's as qualified as Biden. I guess I just look at it more in the vein that whoever the candidate (Obama, McCain, Kerry, W, etc... probably since the Kennedy-Nixon election), they're going to snag the candidate that answers the most questions about the candidates perceived weaknesses. Whether or not the actual candidate happens to be transparently unqualified* is an ancillary point.


*and, honestly, I haven't a clue about Palin's qualifications for the job, so I don't want to either dismiss her as being unqualified or anoint her with the qualified moniker just yet**


**not that it matters because the Republican party platform precludes me from voting for a Republican candidate, not unlike BW23 who I believe has the same feeling from the other side of the aisle

[Richie Allen]

One would think that Biden will eat her alive in the debates on policy and experience, won't he?

I'm sure there's the hope among the Republicans that there is an army of Hillary supporters that followed Clinton to the gates of hell, despite how ridiculous she looked towards the end, and now they'll jump on this bandwagon and continue to ride it, regardless of how she comes off in the debates.

[JL21]

A black man running with an old white man vs an old white man running with a younger woman. U.S. Politics sure has come a long way in the last few years.

Aye, but this very thing almost happened in 1984... except Reagan is white.

[Socnorb11]

One would think that Biden will eat her alive in the debates on policy and experience, won't he?

I'm sure there's the hope among the Republicans that there is an army of Hillary supporters that followed Clinton to the gates of hell, despite how ridiculous she looked towards the end, and now they'll jump on this bandwagon and continue to ride it, regardless of how she comes off in the debates.

I'm not sure if it's a factor or not, but Palin isn't "Mrs. Bill Clinton". That might be the difference.

[wart57]

A black man running with an old white man vs an old white man running with a younger woman. U.S. Politics sure has come a long way in the last few years.

Aye, but this very thing almost happened in 1984... except Reagan is white.

Almost.

This is going to be a fun ride until November, and I still have not decided who to vote for....
Impress me.

[Richie Allen]

One would think that Biden will eat her alive in the debates on policy and experience, won't he?

I'm sure there's the hope among the Republicans that there is an army of Hillary supporters that followed Clinton to the gates of hell, despite how ridiculous she looked towards the end, and now they'll jump on this bandwagon and continue to ride it, regardless of how she comes off in the debates.

I'm not sure if it's a factor or not, but Palin isn't "Mrs. Bill Clinton". That might be the difference.

Well I certainly wouldn't want it to happen but I wouldn't be surprised if there wasn't that hope among Republicans. In fact, I still contend that that's most likely the primary factor behind this choice. In addition to her being young.