More Americans (38 million) watched Obama’s speech last night then watched the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games earlier this month, the final episode of American Idol or the Academy Awards. It was the highest rating convention acceptance speech in US history.
Audience size is one thing, but McCain’s choice of Sarah Palin, excellent in itself, also confirms that, polls aside, Republican strategists know that they are playing catch-up. McCain can only win by taking votes off Obama, he can’t do it by building a grass-roots base of his own. Palin is a pitch for Democrats who wanted to see a woman in the White House.
With the choice of Palin, McCain has been forced into taking risks. Palin is obviously not qualified, yet anyway, to be commander-in-chief, a real possibility given McCain’s age (though, of course, Reagan was of similar age).
Palin is also pro-life, and enthusiastically so. This might be good for McCain who needs to shore up some of the Bush ‘red-state’ base but it is hardly going to be a drawcard for Hillary supporters. And it’s important. There maybe as many three Supreme Court judges (Hillary would be a great pick!) appointed during the next presidential term. Keepig opponents of the right to choose out of the White House has never been more important.
McCain is playing catch-up and taking risks. That’s always a sign of weakness in politics.
Update. See this opinion piece in the NYTimes by Dan Schnur
