Palin stay or Palin go?

[drmomentum[$]]

What would be worse for McCain's campaign; if Palin stayed with the campaign or if Palin were to bow out?

[drmomentum[$]]

I can hear her blaming the media and nasty liberal bloggers, making an excuse and saying she doesn't want to slow McCain down.

On the other hand, having your first important decision as president aborted cannot be good for credibility.

-JP

[lynnzop[$]]

I'd almost put money on this one.

She's a liability...I think McCain was gaining some ground, but lost quite a bit this weekend after he'd named her. I'd agree with what you said in the other thread that he was pressured by the RR, and was running out of time. I know she was named as a possibility very early on, but as a long shot.

[brian_igo]

This is like asking a condemned man how he wants to be executed. It won't change the outcome.

If Palin stays on the ticket, she is going to be death by a thousand cuts. The ethics investigation will continue to generate headlines through the election, reporters will dig into her term as mayor and the work she did on a Ted Stevens 527 when he's on trial, and we're still waiting for the press to start quizzing her on international affairs.

If she's dropped, it will be a massive embarrassment for the McCain campaign and it will draw unwanted attention to how she was selected in the first place. McCain met her for the first time six months ago, they did no serious vetting of her, and she has none of the qualifications McCain says a president should have if she's going to be ready to be commander in chief on day one. And if McCain dumps her after the convention and replaces her with Lieberman or Ridge, the GOP social conservative base will go out of their effing minds.

So my vote is yes. Palin staying on the ticket will drag McCain down, and bowing out would be a huge hit on McCain's image as a competent candidate.

[drmomentum[$]]

I should have included a third option to "head for the lifeboats."

-JP

[magenta321]

And a fourth option of "I'm so glad he picked her!"

I can't help but smile every time I hear another nail hammering into the coffin of McCain/Palin

[Helen_B[$]]

I sure made ME a democrat in one heck of a hurry. What was that old movie called, Farenheit 480? Abstinence and repression, what a combination.

[pippadaisy[$]]

I love it. It's awesome. I have heard of a LOT of people who changed their vote with that announcement (including my parents). ONE person loves her. And Obama/Biden raked in something like $8 million after the announcement. Hopefully, he'll name Dubya Secretary of State and Cheney as Atty. General and just finish it all off. Then Pat Buchanan can call for the general election to be scuttled and appoint Obama by affirmation.

[realtraveller]

Have you all not read the recent polls? The question needs to be changed to asking how long Biden will remain on the ticket.

[theworm[$]]

you can start another poll, Kathy

[pippadaisy[$]]

Yes, I have. There's no accounting for the ability of the American people to ignore smarts for a pretty face. The fact that they won't let her on ANY tv show for at least three weeks is pretty telling.

[slick4591[$]]

You didn't list my vote. I think Palin should stay and make this another close race for the golden ring.

[theworm[$]]

Interesting how we each have a different take on "the facts".
Time will tell.
I am looking forward to the debates.

[conradd]

But these aren't "facts" as much as opinions on political decisions and consequences leading from those decisions. It's what makes a two-party system so interesting, and I'm with Slick on thinking she'll make this race closer and more interesting. I'm looking forward to the debates too.

[mjfrombuffalo[$]]

I long for the days when we can have a not-close race. Never-ending contention and bitterness and agita are almost making me pine for something simple like a monarchy.

[slick4591[$]]

Poll shows big shift to McCain among white women - Yahoo! News

[lynnzop[$]]

I listened to Palin dissing Obama and Obama dissing Palin this a.m. and wanted to throw up.

What happened to "I'm going to run a clean campaign on my own virtues and not on what I don't like about my opponent" ?????

[hadassahchana[$]]

What she said.

[frazzledspice]

Supposedly McCain campaigned solo in Pennsylvania today and the biggest part of the small crowd were people picketing with Obama placards....

She may be bringing "excitement" to his campaign, but can his 72 year-old heart take all that "excitement?" Or is that part of the GOP leadership plan, to give the head of the ticket (who won the nomination because Republicans wanted someone moderate) a heart attack so that they get their fantasy candidate--a social Neanderthal (oh, I forgot, she doesn't believe in Neanderthals) who wants to rape the environment and give the Alaskans the spoils.

I guess I could call her a social "pre-flood-er."

[lynnzop[$]]

frazzledspice said

their fantasy candidate--a social Neanderthal (oh, I forgot, she doesn't believe in Neanderthals)

Oh, that's GOOD, Maryanne.

[drmomentum[$]]

Prominent conservative columnist Kathleen Parker, an early supporter of Republican VP candidate Sarah Palin, said Friday recent interviews have shown the Alaska governor is "out of her league" and should leave the GOP presidential ticket for the good of the party.

CNN Political Ticker: All politics, all the time Blog Archive - Palin should step down, conservative commentator says « - Blogs from CNN.com

Looks like it's the conservatives who might be the ones to resurrect the "Palin drop out" chatter, now that she's becoming a drag in the polls.

Note this: with all the hubbub over McCain going to Washington, I never heard a serious suggestion that Sarah Palin take over the campaign temporarily (fill in for McCain's appearances and such). We all know why that is. The VP is supposed to be able to take over for the president; McCain didn't even trust her to take over for him in the campaign temporarily.

-JP

[mtomm[$]]

Palin who?