The next test
Tuesday, September 9, 2008 at 11:06PM Sarah Palin faces her next test when she sits down with Charlie Gibson of ABC News for her first one-on-one interview as John McCain's running mate on Thursday.
Palin's first test -- which she passed with flying colors -- was her convention speech last Wednesday in St. Paul. The bar wasn't set too high, but she exceeded expectations by such a wide margin that it has since set off a wave of Palin-mania. It's hard to remember the last time a vice presidential candidate has altered the trajectory of an election this dramatically and quickly.
Her interview with Gibson won't be as dramatic -- or watched -- as her convention speech, but it's every bit as important for it will be the first time the American public will get a truly up close inspection of the candidate.
She will need to handle Gibson with aplomb, and avoid (like the plague) any Dan Quayle moments. Even the smallest slip up -- an incoherent answer, botched name, unfamiliarity with the minutiae of an issue, etc -- could sink (or at least critically harm) her credibility as a Veep candidate.
McCain can't afford even the slightest hiccup. He's put all his eggs in the Palin basket, and so far it's paying off handsomely. But she'll need to impress in these one-on-one interviews -- or atleast avoid any glaring mistakes -- and then impress again in her debate with Joe Biden. No small tasks, but so far she's been up to all the challenges.
Reader Comments (8)
Link to Palin's First Gaffe
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/09/08/palin-makes-her-first-gaf_n_124792.html
Ironically, that was a Palin gaffe, but it's getting lost in the shuffle of all the looney left blog hysteria. In a way, everything the looney left blogs have thrown at her have inoculated her from real misteps, like this one. They did the same thing with Reagan, and it worked to his advantage; I suspect the same thing will happen here.
she will be taken down brick by brick...it is now intensifying in a big way. People have an emotional attachment to her, but she will at least be brought down to a level playing field. I can't wait for tomorrow's Gibson interview. If she nails it, then the teflon thing might get stronger, but there are cracks in the dam percolating all over the place
this interview was cherry picked. Gibson's not throwing hardballs. she's been giving the same speech the past few days. we'll get the samed canned messages. milk toast.
Having a special needs child myself, i was in fact impressed that Palin called out to folks during her convention speech that this community would be taken care of/not forgotten - my wife and I were impressed by that. That is until I read (from several reports inside her state and national wire coverage) that she in fact has slashed Alaskan state funding for those same children in need by 62%. It makes me angry that politicians (on both sides) lie to gain votes...but this one hits home on a personal level. And given that I don't like her selection to begin with, it makes me that much more angry about her as a person/running mate. I hope her voting record v. her popularity driven by lies, mistruths and other statements at least bring her back to what she is - a pandering politician.
You should do proper research on Palin, not from the Huffington Post or MSNBC or whatever other place you're getting your "info." The things you say have been debunked and documents prove it. The funding you say she slashed was actually raised.
and more vetting on the way. site like huff post just aggregate news that is already out there. i know they are left leaning, but they are a repository for the types of stories that may come out to MSM...here is a sample of the crap she is spewing that is being debunked by MSM..brick by brick, my friends. Palin is such a pawn, a tool, being used by people so more powerful than her she doesn't know which way is up anymore. If she knows that, what does it say about her. If she doesnt know that, what does that say about her. She is on a leash. Nothing more, nothing less
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/09/10/gutter-politics-mccain-ca_n_125291.html
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