The day after

So Sarah Palin passed the first test, and with flying colors:  She's proven that she can deliver a speech, galvinize the Republican base, appeal to cultural moderates, and do it with humor and style that's way too uncommon in our politics today.  To quote Brian Williams of NBC News, "a star was born".  

Most observers, save hardcore partisans, agree that she's going to be a factor in this election, one way or the other.  The real question for team McCain is:  Will she be the rockstar of Wednesday night, or the media caricature of Wednesday afternoon?

To a large extent, Sarah Palin controls her own destiny.  Now that she's shown that she's an electrifying speaker, she needs to demonstrate that she can stand up to close media scrutiny in one-on-one interviews.  It's simply not enough to campaign on the hustings in front of partisan crowds; she needs to sit down with the morning shows, and the Sunday talk shows, and other national outlets, and defend her experience, her record in Alaska, her vision for the country, and her foreign policy judgement. 

The American public has not had a chance to vet her, or see her up close, or watch her respond to tough questions or unscripted situations.  All the other candidates have been through it, and she needs to go through it as well.   If the McCain camp wants to reassure the American people that she's ready to lead from day one, then they have to let Governor Palin be scrutinized up-close.  If she can stand up to it, and litigate her case with conviction, all the more better -- it will give her that much more credibility, and validate McCain's selection.   And if she wilts under the inspection?  Then maybe she's not the right person for the job. 

It will be very interesting to see how team McCain rolls her out post convention.  Will it be friendly campaign stops only, or will she meet the press?