The ONLY reason she turned people off is because she allowed the campaign to manipulate her into playing the media’s game. The things they did - the rumors, the attacks on her children, the rumors about the clothing... all the while lavishing largesse on “that man” like he was the next caesar. It was despicable.
Sarah is not perfect. Her family is not perfect. If she has to get the media’s approval to run, she will never make it. We have to remember Reagan - he turned the media’s attacks on him on their heads. He wouldn’t play their game.
He said “I PAID FOR THAT MICROPHONE.” I didn’t understand that at the time, I still don’t totally, but I think it represented a refusal to play by rules set by people who have no right to make the rules.
And one more thing — I believe the Office goes to the individuals with the brass ones to step up and take it.
It's not as if the media was fair to Reagan. As you say, Reagan fought back, and did so effectively. He demonstrated alpha male leadership. People like that in a leader (duh).
In the end, the Palin debate is pointless. She was the undercard. She was held back by virtue of being the 2nd name on the ticket. Did Reagan ever run for 2nd place? I don't think so. Had he been someone's veep pick, he would have been equally saddled. But he didn't run for 2nd banana.
The top of the ticket is the decisive factor. McCain was awful as a candidate. Awful in the debates. And he sealed his fate when he suspended his campaign and got on the wrong side of the bailout issue. After that, he was toast.