Barack Obama has distanced himself from his campaign's official first reaction to the news of Sarah Palin's selection as John McCain's running mate. He is pedaling backward just as fast as he can.
"I think that, uh, you know, campaigns start getting these, uh, hair triggers and, uh, the statement that Joe and I put out reflects our sentiments," he said, according to the pool report, apparently criticizing his staff for going overboard, as he did occasionally in the primary.
He was referring to a more gracious statement of congratulations he issued later with Biden, which he then reiterated.
I suspect the attempt at belittling Palin polled very, very badly. Obama's supporters better rein it in fast or they will begin to damage their candidate. If they haven't already.
Too, too funny. Rahm Emanuel has gone on the attack over the selection of Sarah Palin as John McCain's running mate:
After trying to make experience the issue of this campaign, John McCain celebrated his 72nd birthday by appointing a former small town mayor and brand new Governor as his Vice Presidential nominee. Is this really who the Republican Party wants to be one heartbeat away from the Presidency? Given Sarah Palin's lack of experience on every front and on nearly every issue, this Vice Presidential pick doesn't show judgement: it shows political panic.
Actually the panic shoe is on the other foot, I suspect. Jim Lindgren at Volokh has some news that should be causing panic in Obamaland.
You would not believe how the Sarah Palin pick is playing out at the Hillary Clinton Forum (tip to a VC commenter). In order, these are all the posts on the first (and only) page I've looked at (page 8 of the Palin thread; this link may not point to exactly the same posts). I cut out headers and footers only.
+++++++++++++++
________________________________________
Wow, Thanks so much to this Sarah Palin who never forgot us. She is a fighter. She paid her respects to our Hillary and Geraldine . They now no more think women in this country are 2nd class. You go girl and thank you for a refreshing pick Sen. McCain.
+++++++++++++++
________________________________________
i wish i could see the look on obamas face when he heard this vp pick
Or Michelles. "Why'd he go and do that!"
+++++++++++++++
________________________________________
I am going over to John McCain's website and thank her for acknowledging the glass ceiling and our struggles. She needs to know that there are LOTS of us behind her fight.
Obama is in real trouble.
Sure, they're trying to take the low road on McCain's pick for VP, Governor Sarah Palin of Alaska, but in the process they again show their scorn for small town America:
Barack Obama's campaign is blasting John McCain for putting "the former mayor of a town of 9,000 with zero foreign policy experience a heartbeat away from the presidency."
The scathing description of Sarah Palin, from Obama spokesman Bill Burton, comes as Democrats scramble to gather a response to a selection that nobody in the political world expected.
This disrespect for a large part of the country keeps showing up from the Obama campaign and the candidate himself. This is not going to play well with people from those small towns who also happen to be voters. And there are a lot of us.
And she's good. I am watching her live right now and she has presence, dignity and poise. The Obama campaign just got a major problem. They have already decided to take the low road and began issuing derisive statements about Palin as nothing more than a small town mayor. That technique will backfire on them, it makes them look petty.
Especially when Palin makes it a point, as she just did, to praise Geraldine Ferraro and Hillary Clinton.
Obama has a real problem.
Nicely done, McCain, nicely done.
UPDATE: Top ten list worth reading, written before the announcement.
Regardless of who John McCain has at his side in Ohio in a few minutes, there is one thing for sure: McCain has masterfully grabbed command of this news cycle. Everyone is speculating on who his choice for VP will be. The biggest ruckus seems to be around Alaska Governor Sarah Palin, not exactly a household name in the lower 48. But what little is being said about her right now seems to be pretty positive.
Such a choice would give the Obama campaign fits.
And again, no matter who steps on stage with McCain, this news cycle belongs to him. He's knocked Obama out of discussion for a while. Look at the dominance on Memeorandum.
Politics | Gaius Friday, 29 August , 2008 | 
Comments (2) 
