For Democrats and Republicans
Both Democrats and Republicans have, what I’ll call The Sarah Palin Problem. It’s a complex situation that’ll resolve itself in the coming months. And we’ll see what happens in November.
For Republicans, she’s a good problem to have. She energizes the base of the party, something that McCain, alone, could never do. The enthusiasm gap for the election has never been closer; and McCain actually pulls more Republicans (90%) than Obama pulls Democrats (82%) (link). Since the party identification is narrowing as well, this greatly benefits McCain and affords him the chance to win in November, something that was unthinkable 3 weeks ago.
But there is a downside as well. Sarah Palin has limited experience on national issues. Yes, she has 2 years as a governor - with a pretty successful record - and as a mayor before that. Voters love executive experience on the Presidential ticket. 4 of the 5 previous Presidents have a governorship under their belts before winning the White House. Palin adds this to the McCain ticket. She can point to executive decisions she has made, choices she has made. And she has a compelling story as well.
But on national issues, I think the Gibson interview showed she hasn’t thought a lot about them. And why would she have? Clearly, she has her beliefs on social issues and on answering those she did just wonderfully - and Sarah came through with flying colors. But on other issues, her greenishness shows. Republicans need to find a way to fix this.
Any normal VP candidate would not be subjected to the scrutiny Palin is being given. The media and democrats (but I repeat myself) seem to realize that if McCain wins, Palin is most certainly going to be President in 2012. Face it. McCain wouldn’t run again. Obama would be done. Hillary doesn’t have the charisma like Palin does. And I don’t see any real up and comers on the Democrat side. So Palin is the heir apparent; and that is probably why there is so much heat from Democrats hellbent on destroying her.
So Republicans need to treat her like she is the Presidential candidate on this ticket. How do they do that?
Well, first let’s point out some problems in the Gibson interview.
PALIN: We’re going to find efficiencies in every department. We have got to.
Saying efficiencies over and over again is not a winner. Her heart, clearly, is in the right place. Get specific, or, at least improve the rhetoric. Palin could improve this by saying “For every tax dollar that you or I sends to Washington, 75% is lost in Bureaucracy. Only 25% reaches the people its intended to reach. If Washington were a charity, no one would willingly donate to it. We can and must fix that.” Much better than efficiencies.
In her first solo stop, in Carson City, Nevada, Palin was much better. She brought up a good line that “You can spend your money better than Washington” Great line. Love that. But again, double down on this. Add this, “Washington takes $10,000 in taxes from every man, woman and child in this country. Our opponent says that this is enough. Say no to more taxes. No to bigger government.” Reinforce how much taxes we already pay with hard numbers. Get people to stare at their paychecks and see how much they are losing.
I’d also recommend that McCain’s economic advisors (or Fred Thompson, who is great at these kind of speeches) pour though the budget and find specific examples of wasteful spending - above and beyond pork - such as redundant departments. Food Stamp Fraud. Payments to dead people. Whatever. Find it. Talk about it. Hammer it home that you are the agent of change.
Finally, attack Congress. Today on the Sunday Shows we had some Democrat say this:
“She doesn’t know anything, and she is not ready to be vice president,” Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-Fla.) said on CBS’s “Face The Nation.”
Palin should be out there saying - with her wonderful smile, “We have Congressmen telling me I don’t know anything. This, from a Congress with a 9% approval rating. Who cannot manage to balance their budget - something I’ve been doing since I was governor. And they tell me I know nothing? If an unbalanced budget, entitlement programs on the verge of collapse is knowing something, then I’ll happily be a know-nothing!” People would jump out of their seats and vote for her without hesitation.
In short, McCain needs to improve her rhetoric and make sharper attacks against an unpopular Congress and go on the attack about the experience angle.
For Democrats, the Palin Problem is entirely different. Palin has taken Obama’s mojo. She dominates the coverage and since her convention speech - where she and Rudy (in a speech that, I don’t think, has been talked about near enough) - completely sliced and diced his candidacy. McCain, previously had set the stage with the wonderful Celebrity ads, that washed away the Messiah image so carefully crafted by the media.
Whenever Democrats focus on Palin’s experience (or lack thereof, depending on your point of view), all it really does is make people wonder. What about Obama? If Palin with a governorship and mayoral experience, under her belt is fundamentally unqualified for Vice President; what makes Obama qualified for President? A couple months as senator and a community organizer? This is an argument Republicans will win every time.
What’s worse, is that Obama seems to be content to battle this notion as well. Having a Presidential candidate go after the other ticket’s Vice Presidential candidate is almost unheard of. Yet Obama can’t get her out of his head. Meanwhile, McCain is left, above the fray, looking Presidential day in and day out by ignoring the crossfire. Even Palin - as inexperienced as she is - comes off better than Obama in these arguments.
I, for one, am perfectly content to have my personality driven Vice Presidential candidate go up against your personality driven Presidential candidate any day of the week. It elevates Palin and diminishes Obama. And the polls reflect this. It’s all slipping away from Obama and I think their internal polls tell them this. Minnesota is in play. PA is in play. Washington is in play. Stunning.
So how should the Democrats handle Palin? I’m not here to give advice; but anyone can tell their current tact is not working. The media will cover Palin where ever she goes. McCain will draw bigger crowds and get more working class votes because of her and despite her being a “know nothing” people will rally around her, because, frankly, she is authentic. Something Obama is not.
If McCain wins; American wins. For far too long, this country has had a permanent ruling class who attempts to convince people that Washington is too big, too difficult, too mean for an average person to run. America needs a Mrs Smith in Washington.
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chris on September 14th, 2008
I couldn’t have said it better.
Lincoln on September 16th, 2008
I tend to agree, except that I would refer to Sarah as Mrs. Smith and Wesson. It just seems like a more appropriate moniker. =D