Thank you. You are the first person I've seen throughout all the hyperbolic, hysterical "discussions" since the Leno show to acknowledge this telling indicator about Palin's positioning on this regarding her "support" for McCain.
I'd be surprised if this appearance on McCain's behalf is not her last with him, at least during this campaign.
I'm not certain if she has committed to more than one appearance in Arizona, but I'm unaware of any beyond this dinner. At this point, based on what she has actually done, the whining complaints about her "campaigning" for McCain are somewhat ridiculous. She hasn't done any actual campaigning for him yet, and based on her acknowledged commitments, it doesn't appear she'll be doing much campaigning for him.
What she has done is give, out of political necessity, a pro forma political endorsement, and agreed to a very limited schedule of public appearances. And when, in public appearances for her own projects she has inevitably been asked to comment on it she has graciously reiterated her endorsement. However, to listen to some of the rabid complainers on this board you'd think she was leading a town hall, rubber chicken dinner, whistle stop bus tour all over Arizona for McCain.
Is it regrettable that she felt she had to acknowledge political reality and extend a calculated tactical endorsement to McCain? Certainly. Will it carry a cost for her? Absolutely. Will there be some longer term benefit to her as well. Yep.
And finally, does it merit all this hysteria, whining and melodrama? Hardly.
I have to say I agree with what you said in your post. Sarah’s endorsement of Mac is obvious for all the reasons mentioned already. There is on component that has not been mentioned so much and it’s access to big money donors. If Sarah does make the decision to run in ‘12 a commitment from big money donors will be just as important as the grass roots small donors. Sarah needs BOTH. Mittens has big money donors but not small money donors and that is a problem for him.