Op-Ed

Why the Palin pick boosts McCain



Barack Obama has been known for energizing the electorate this campaign season, no one can argue that. He draws large crowds to rallies and was able to take a significant lead in the polls over McCain. However in the past few weeks, McCain’s poll numbers have gone up ground and his crowds have become larger. The reason for this is because a new gleaming star has emerged in American politics, Sarah Palin. With Gov. Palin in the race she has brings her executive experience, change message, and even excitement, game on Barack Obama.


Sarah Palin has more executive experience than Barack Obama who seeks the Presidency, that is a fact. In the research I completed analyzing the history of both Barack Obama and Sarah Palin, it is proven that she has held two executive titles, compared to Obama’s zero. She became Mayor of Wasilla, Alaska and helped the town bring its budget out of a deficit and into a surplus. She then elevated to the Governorship of Alaska beating the incumbent Governor and enacting many changes which will be discussed in depth later. It is hard to imagine how Barack Obama can continue to attack Sarah Palin who has more executive experience than himself.


According to recent polls, Americans have grown tired with the current administration as only one third of the American public supports the current administrations policies according to a September 1st, 2008 CBS News poll. With this poll, it is evident Americans want change. Sarah Palin has a track record of enacting change in every office she goes into unlike Barack Obama who preaches a hollow change with his undefined policies. Sarah Palin became Governor by beating the incumbent Republican Governor of Alaska as she sought to end corruption in the state government. She appointed Democrats and Republicans to serve in her cabinet, unlike any other Alaska Governor. She sold the private jet reserved for the Governor and fired the executive chef at the Governor’s mansion as she saw them as unnecessary. She cut earmark requests in half for Alaska as Governor and raised taxes on the big oil companies, something no Alaskan Governor had ever been able to do, mainly in part because she stood up to the lobbyists. It is quite evident that Sarah Palin has the change message that Americans are looking for and a track record to prove it.


John McCain announced his choice of Sarah Palin as his running mate at the end of August on a clear Ohio day. That was the day when the Republican party and parts of America truly became energized by the McCain ticket. In the ensuing days after the announcement, Palin and McCain toured parts of the country before the Republican convention as crowds swelled to see Palin and McCain together as they spoke about the reform they could bring to the White House. On the third night of the Republican convention, Sarah Palin gave her keynote speech and immediately a star was born. Her oratory was fantastic and even Democrats were left in awe of her speech that talked about real change that Americans could believe in. In the weeks that followed since the Republican convention Sarah Palin has been able to draw massive crowds as her words continue to entice people to the McCain ticket. She also energizes disenfranchised Hillary Clinton supporters who now have a reason to cheer again as Palin seeks to become the first woman Vice President in history just as Geraldine Ferraro, a Democrat tried to accomplish years ago. She also adds another element that has not been as prevalent in the campaign before, humor. Her speeches are filled with wit and charm and her famous quote, “the only difference between a hockey mom and a pig is lipstick,” drew punch lines on comedy shows throughout the country and has become talk of the media. Sarah Palin also connects to voters in a way McCain was unable to. She has a child with down syndrome and understands the effects of disabilities on children. She has another child who is a teenager that is pregnant out of wedlock and chose to fully stand behind her daughter in choosing to have the baby and marry the father of the child. These are family issues that many Americans have to deal with, having a child with a disability and a child who becomes pregnant out of wedlock. It is her support of her family unconditionally that has the nation taking notice.


Overall Sarah Palin proves to be an incredible choice for McCain as he climbs in the polls and even overtakes Obama in some of them. Her executive experience, change message, and sheer excitement are all beneficial things to the McCain ticket. As time passes, people will begin to realize how experienced she is and how she can enact reform.