Palin

Well, it's the gutsy, strategic choice, that's for sure. Her conservatism will appeal to the base, which is finally fired up two months before the election. Maybe a sliver of Hillary Democrats will defect to McCain. (Check out the posts of PUMAs and others at the Hillary Forum, for example) More likely, Independent women voters will shift to Republican.

A couple of here-and-there thoughts:

She should definitely cut some ads, talking about her upbringing, work as governor, showing the family, union member husband, shooting & hunting, etc. Play them in OH, PA, MI, MO, VA, NH, and across the Rocky Mountain West. Think about it -- do you think there will be a slate of Biden ads (except maybe in PA) that will have anywhere near the same effectiveness? These are the states she should primarily visit too.

The criticism has already begun, although Obama and Biden have wisely decided to stay above it all (at least for now), leaving it up to surrogates. But the attacks on "this woman" and "that woman" are good news to Repubs. Rapping her inexperience makes everyone look back at Obama, and the top of a ticket. Bringing up the ethics investigation of her back in Alaska is a trap -- all Palin has to say is "I did not act improperly, but I will also do whatever I can to protect my sister from domestic abuse." Wonder how that will go over with Hillary and Independent Dems. Rod Dreher covers this well. There are so many paths to a backlash, Democrats would be wise to stay away.

Her expertise is energy policy and Americans are overwhelmingly in favor of oil drilling, offshore and up north. Make her the energy-oil-gas point person all fall. "You are angry about high gas prices? Let me tell you about Alaska ... and have you met my husband, the union member and oil worker? Todd, tell them about the Northern Slope..."

Keep using the phrases "smashing the glass ceiling" and "old-boy's network."

The abortion issue is being overplayed. The diehard pro-choicers will never back her anyway, but Independents (who are not the doctrinaire single-issue voters) will see past that to energy policy, taxes, ethics reform, etc. The Left may not like the strong pro-life position. Who cares. They are on the outside looking in.

She has the possibility of being the first veep candidate to make a difference election day.