Palin is going to secure the conservative base. (Prolife, gunowner, huntress, ...)
Palin is going the secure the "special needs" crowd (asthe mother of a Down syndrome child).
As a woman Palin will be seen to disarm the dems criticism of "picking and old, establishment white guy."
Let 'em complain all they want about her so called inexperience. She's a sitting governor and has executive experience unlike the cypher O-bama.
Women who have children with disabilities often vote Democrat, because these kids need huge financial resources from the public coffers.
Many of these women are going to identify with Sarah, and switch their vote. When she showed up with that tiny baby in back of her on stage, that is genius.
And the union blue collar vote