Why Palin is the most Dangerous Candidate

by Realistguy

She is a 44 year-old, self-described hockey mom with five kids and a husband called the first dude, who has only 2 years of real political experience, and yet she is the greatest threat to Barack Obama's campaign. Her road to the GOP vice presidential nomination was unlikely and has taken the attention off Obama and put it on the McCain/Palin ticket. Almost everything McCain had hoped for in this pick has come true; more media coverage, a greater personal connection with voters, and an enthused base, but before we get to why she threatens Obama, however, we must take a look at what she represents in the voters' eyes. A blue-collar woman, who represents maverick reform and down home family values, with an uncorruptable image (even while under investigation), who brought a liveliness to a once flailing campaign.
Continued: Click "Read More"

Her bio alone, (even if most of it is untrue), makes her a great political choice. We Democrats have learned from facing Karl Rove campaigns that voters love a good story and down-home values. Eventually her lack of policy experience will catch up to her, but there is no doubt in my mind that voters care more about values than real issues. Her second greatest strength is that Democrats and the media underestimate her ability to speak and perform under pressure. As long as CNN ,MSNBC, CBS, Politico, and other political stations and sites (other than Fox News of course) keep underestimating her, the more she will pleasantly surprise the blue-collar voters that Obama needs, in order to win Colarado, Ohio, Missouri, and Pennsylvania.

Democrats also underestimate her ability to perform in a Biden-Palin debate. She is a good speaker who will have the talking points John McCain uses, so it unlikely she will be made to look like a fool. Her third greatest strength is that she is a woman. Some will be offended by this, but the truth is the truth. She will not get Clinton supporters, but her sex will make it hard for Biden and Obama to attack her without being labled sexist. Unfortunately, she has already started labling the media and democratic leaders for attacking her sex, and it is only a matter of time before Obama gets hit with some sexism attacks.

Palin has made Obama's road to the white house a more topsy-turvy road than it was. He will have to travel a fine line between what is sexist in voter's eyes and voter-approved attacks. She This forces him to talk policy and not in platitudes, which he can struggle at. For example, Palin gave Obama a big hole to attack when she insulted Community Organizers. He could have talked about how community organization started the civil rights movement, and attacked her on being out of touch with the minority vote, but because the sexism card was already out he did not. He sent out an advisor to make a flimsy Bush-McCain attack.

Now I know Young Sentinel and others believe that Obama should ignore her and go to Mccain, but she is too big a threat to leave alone. I have only two solutions. One attack her hard on all issues and the trooper scandal, take some sexism bashes and hope that voters realize what a inexperienced pick she really is. This is very risky and could backfire any minute Biden or Obama says something about family that seems anti-feminist. The second solution is not as risky, but also not as effective. Everytime Palin talks sexism, attack her on playing the feminist card and hope people see she is using her feminism for politcal gain. Both these ideas are not as effective as a slip-up by Palin because of her inexperiance, but I don't believe in waiting for things to happen.

In conclusion, I hope voters see past the political spin McCain has put out and look up facts about her Governership. I know this a highly opinionated article that will be disagreed with by Republicans and Democrats, but I'm a realist and try to see things for what they really are.