By all accounts Sarah Palin had a very good first day. From the news footage I could see and reactions around my office, people appeared enthusiastic and impressed. Her speech emphasized her conservative credentials and her leadership in Alaska. She also gave a very smart shout out to Hillary Clinton.
This morning, conservatives weigh in and some are more excited than others. Bill Kristol writes, “There will be rocky moments. But they will fade if the McCain campaign lets Palin’s journey take its natural course over the next two months. Millions of Americans–mostly but not only women, mostly but not only Republicans and conservatives–seemed to get a sense of energy and enjoyment and pride, not just from her nomination, but especially from her smashing opening performance.”
Fred Barnes in the Wall Street Journal notes, “Republicans have a ways to go. Mrs. Palin now must clear a daunting hurdle — first the media, then public opinion. Since the press is unfamiliar with her, she will be treated as a target for aggressive scrutiny. In the past, surprise picks like Mrs. Palin have faltered in the face of a media onslaught and never recovered. Mrs. Ferraro, though more familiar, became an albatross for Mr. Mondale. In 1988, Dan Quayle was quickly turned into a joke for late-night comics.”
The editors of The National Review opine, “None of McCain’s possible choices was perfect, and attention is being paid to the way that Palin undercuts other McCain themes, such as the importance of experience in foreign policy. Palin will have to reassure voters of her steadiness when she speaks at the Republican convention and when she debates Joe Biden. McCain, meanwhile, will have to carry most of the foreign-policy load himself and showcase his good health.”
Charles Krauthammer writes on the Washington Post website, “The Palin selection completely undercuts the argument about Obama’s inexperience and readiness to lead — on the theory that because Palin is a maverick and a corruption fighter, she bolsters McCain’s claim to be the reformer in this campaign. In her rollout today, Palin spoke a lot about change. McCain is now trying to steal “change” from Obama, a contest McCain will lose in an overwhelmingly Democratic year with an overwhelmingly unpopular incumbent Republican administration. At the same time, he’s weakening his strong suit — readiness vs. unreadiness.”
The Arkansas Project rounds up the local commentary from Doug Thompson, John Brummett and Aaron Sadler.
Mark your calendars for Wednesday night. That’s when Palin addresses the Republican National Convention. Most importantly, she’ll need to calm the uneasiness some have about her own experience. On values, she’s exactly what Republicans needed to energize their lethargic base. But that’s not enough. John McCain is 72 and a cancer survivor. Is Palin ready to lead in a time of crisis should something happen to him? This is question she must effectively address in this speech and then again in the debate in order to squash the distractions her candidacy presents.
Editor’s Note: For people who say VP’s don’t matter, in the history of American nine have assumed the office when the sitting president either died unexpectedly or resigned.