Experts gauge Palin: Can her star power last?

Newsday ^ | 9/13/2008 | Tom Brune

[markomalley]

WASHINGTON - Sarah Palin has so far taken the country by storm, giving a needed boost to Republican John McCain's bid for the White House, but over the next few weeks both the McCain and Obama campaigns will be watching closely to see if she has staying power.

Palin, a surprise and historic pick as the first female GOP vice-presidential candidate, has unexpectedly added a new dimension to the presidential race, as well as some unpredictability in the role she will play over the next 51 days before the Nov. 4 election.

"I don't think we have ever seen a situation like this," said veteran GOP strategist Bill Lacy, director of a University of Kansas political think tank.

Several factors will affect what happens to Palin's current star power, including her performance as a national candidate, new disclosures about her, the political calendar and her position as No. 2 on the GOP ticket, experts in politics and public relations said.

"I don't think we can extrapolate where she is today and say this is where she will be by Nov. 4," said Andrew Kohut, president of the Pew Research Center, whose polling showed Palin has helped McCain's image.

Yet as she enters her third week as McCain's running mate, Palin is still the center of a tug-of-war between the McCain and Obama campaigns over the attention of the public and media.

[Sisku Hanne]

Obama is nothing more than a created and marketed brand. The human equivalent of a pet rock, and proof that some people will buy anything. Heck, the guys who created the Obama brand should be running for office, not him!
Sarah Palin is authentic. She connects to people on a genuine and primal level. Authenticity is timeless.

[Eye of Unk]

These stars lasted.

[longtermmemmory]

These are the same “experts” that had a heart attack at the outpouring of love and affection when Ronald Reagan was sent to rest.

The MSM does not understand “conservative” vs gimick.

There is no way just ANY woman would make the difference. It is like kay baily hutchinson would have been another ferraro. (seriously if was just placing a woman on the ticket we would be taking about VP ferraro not her losing in a landslide)

This is about CONSERVATIVE and the CONSERVATIVE NATION.

Until the media can get outside their beltways oblivion they are going to have their bosses considering a pay cut to their talking hair styles.

[longtermmemmory]

Remember when Reagan made the moose antlers?

I think he was at a press club function.

The drive by media has no idea about the giant that has been awakened.