The Palin Factor and Why McCain Has a Good Chance of Winning Now

Sarah Palin without a doubt has invigorated the McCain camp in a pretty significant way.

I mean let’s face it. Just about a week ago, McCain was the old, dull and boring guy that the media couldn’t be bothered too much with. It was Obama fever all over the place, and when Biden got into the picture, the fever got even hotter.

Then unexpectedly, Palin comes onto the scene and BAM, attention shifts. The Alaskan politician who only just days ago was virtually a no-name politician in the United States, is all of a sudden the most talked about woman in the whole damn world.

I bet McCain is happy with his VP pick and how she’s brought the spotlight.

Palin’s entry should not be ignored and perceived as inconsequential to the race. While I think the overall momentum at the moment is still left-leaning, I think McCain has a pretty good chance of winning now.

Sure, most Americans still dislike Bush, and they’re unhappy with the economy and the higher unemployment rate, but by just going through the comments sections of blogs in the American Rightosphere, you can see a huge boost in enthusiasm.

Previously, most comments reflected lots and lots of frustration and bitterness towards Obama. The Elephants’ self-esteem didn’t look too good. The media was all over Obama. Plus, McCain is not exactly known for being an excellent orator.

The dinosaur puts me to sleep sometimes.

Enthusiasm is important, because if potential voters get enthusiastic enough, they will show up in bigger numbers at the voting booth.

Karl Rove helped Bush get elected and then re-elected because he knew exactly how to mobilize the conservative base. He turned things like gay marriage and abortion into red hot issues that got conservatives all worked up… worked up enough to show in bigger numbers. That was his genius.

Palin managed to really pump up things for people on her side. She turned into a loved figure over night amongst many, if not most conservatives. Furthermore, she could turn drilling and energy policy into a key issue, and hence, establish herself as a credible authority on the subject. But more importantly, she has made conservatives excited.

She uplifted their morale.

Given things as they are right now, I still believe Obama has the bigger chance of winning BUT… if Palin and the McCain camp manage to get their base mobilized fast and adequately enough, they just might end up grabbing the White House.

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As for what I think, I gotta say that while I love Palin’s fierceness and libertarian leanings, her religious worldview turns me off in a heinous way. It’s disturbing to know that somebody who blurs the line between separation of church and state like she does, can be a heartbeat away from the presidency. As for Biden, I’m very reluctant to embrace him thanks to his interventionist stance on Darfur. His addition to the Obama camp means more hostility towards Sudan, which brings me to this.

Too little pressure, like what the Elephants are doing now, and the situation won’t change much in Sudan. Too much pressure and hostility, like what the Donkeys might very well end up doing, and you risk screwing up the situation badly turning it into a Somalia-like scenario.

This doesn’t even begin to go into Iraq, Iran, genuine support of liberalism and democracy, terrorism,  the re-rise of Russia, boosting the global production of Prozac, protecting endangered pandas, and legalizing marijuana.

Hmmm…

I gotta admit, trying to be a non-partisan “independent” can be a total bitch sometimes. Not only that, but at times, I really do feel that ignorance is indeed bliss.

I’m going for a swim.

Meanwhile, Sarah Palin fever continues.