She was a decent person with good manners and brought out the kinds of crowds McCain couldn't. She was the only one who seemed to have a message. The top of the ticket didn't have one. One can dispute her qualifications and perhaps even question whether she's a conservative but no one can question the way she conducted herself on the campaign trail. Few people could have comported themselves as well under such difficult circumstances. Had McCain nominated someone else, his loss would have been larger, since no conservative would have voted for him. I wouldn't have if Palin hadn't been on the ticket.
"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus