Editor Posts

Well, John McCain's judgement has now been tested. And he's failed that test spectacularly. The most important test of anyone who runs for president is the ability to choose first a running mate, then an administration. On the occasion of his 72nd birthday, in front of a banner that, without irony, read "Country First," McCain chose Alaska Governor Sarah Palin, a hard right-winger who is plainly not ready to step-up in the event of McCain's inability to serve out his term.

United Press International

2008-08-29

Alaska first-term Gov. Sarah Palin has been tapped to be Sen. John McCain's running mate on the Republican ticket, a campaign source said Friday.

A senior member of McCain's campaign confirmed the choice of Palin, 44, CNN reported. Fox News cited a campaign source with the same confirmation.

CNN said it was tipped to the choice when it learned a private plane from Anchorage, Alaska, landed about 25 miles from Dayton, Ohio, site of where McCain was to announce his vice presidential choice Friday.

"The fact that she is not a Washingtonian, that she is outside the beltway ... is in her favor," U.S. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison, R-Texas, told CNN. "I think it's a breath of fresh air.

Palin, 44, was elected governor in 2006.

Hutchison was under consideration early on as a running mate for McCain. Also on the short list were Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty and former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney.

A service of YellowBrix, Inc.

McCain's base has always been the establishment media, which makes this piece all the more interesting... usually the press keeps McCain's nastiness to themseleves:

when TIME's James Carney and Michael Scherer were invited to the front of McCain's plane recently for an interview, they were ushered forward, past the curtain that now separates reporters from the candidate, past the sofa that was designed for his gabfests with the press and taken straight to the candidate's seat. McCain at first seemed happy enough to do the interview. But his mood quickly soured. The McCain on display in the 24-minute interview was prickly, at times abrasive, and determined not to stray off message.

There's audio and an excerpt from the interview at the link.. worth a listen.

Night three was a great night - what was the best moment? Click here and Take the Poll!

Michelle Obama enters a room, the crowd goes wild. The people can't get enough of her, even the other big shots. Roving floor reporter, Alex Goldmark, catches Vermont Senator Patrick Leahy snapping a few photos of the (potential) future first lady.
Listen: Senator Leahy (D-VT) snaps a photo of Michelle Obama.

Watch Rachel broadcasting live from Denver here.