McCain Camp Doesn't Let Palin Spin After Debate

As the New York Times reported before Friday night's debate, Sarah Palin would not be providing post-debate spin for John McCain on the major TV networks:

After Barack Obama and John McCain stop talking on the debate stage Friday night, their surrogates will start spinning. But one high-profile supporter of Mr. McCain will be missing: his running mate Sarah Palin.[...]

Ms. Palin is scheduled to be at a debate-viewing event in Philadelphia, covered by a limited group of reporters, and she is not listed by any networks as a post-debate guest. On NBC and CBS, the former Republican presidential candidate Rudy Giuliani will be commenting on the debate performances.

As The New Republic's Michael Crowley noted during the post-debate coverage, Palin's absence looked particularly awkward given the fact that Joe Biden was appearing all over the place:

Amusing moment on CNN just now. Wolf Blitzer, coming out of a commercial:

"We've been getting some emails from views out there wondering why we spent some time interviewing Joe Biden, the Democratic vice presidential nominee and not Sarah Palin, the Republican vice presidential nominee. We would have loved to interview--we'd still love to interview Sarah Palin. Unfortunately we asked, we didn't get that interview...We're hoping that Sarah Palin will join us at some point down the road."

I'm told that Biden appeared on every major network tonight except ABC (which only turned him down because Palin wasn't available, on an equal-time sort of basis).

It's pretty strange when a candidate can't trust his own running mate to be out there spinning on his behalf.

Comments

[ncomputernerd]

It's probably because she would have said things more ridiculous than the phrases generated by http://www.palinanswers.com.

[qxav949]

This site is f..in funny. I love that algorithm. Oh sorry. "I this to a rhythm of algo terrorist in order to love close to Russia, carri... I dunno... mock." Oh yeah, Putin rears his head trade missions Canada we send those out eyes kept.

[IhaveaDREAMwhitegirl]

ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ

[BigHeadTodd]

It's another REACTIONARY party gamble. If the real AMERICAN public is led to believe that she is not the brightest bulb in the chandelier and she does even "OK" during the debate, folks will say she "held her own" and "met expectations."

It's a folly, of course. Just as silly as McCain's desperate need to be in Washington to hammer out the bailout and then he sits at the table like the silent boy on the short yellow school bus.

The REACTIONARY party is all about gimmick and razzle-dazzle and no substance.

We can only hope that Joltin' Joe Biden lands some straight uppercuts to her chin on her support for anti-abortion policies even in the case of RAPE and INCEST, the "fact" (not politics) that every political position she has EVER been in has been plagued by ABUSE OF POWER and CORRUPTION scandals, and that just because there is an unpopulated island with an intensely harsh climate 2.5 miles from Russia, she CANNOT see that country from Wasilla, Juneau or Anchorage.

Interestingly is you jumble around the letters in PALIN, you get LAPIN, which is "rabbit" in French. Hopefully this mad hare will be crawling back into her hole in Alaska come Nov. 5.

[jcahill]

Joe has some pretty deep experience in the areas she is totally faking it in_

we know her record_she's a kook_call her on it_

kick her hard...kick her often...and roll that video tape

the tina fey sketch last night was (fun, yes-hilarious, yes)_
but very frightening that this election has BECOME SUCH A JOKE

[Philly Gadfly]

Would you want Sarah Palin speaking on your behalf?

[CostaDelBarto]

Palin speaking on my behalf? Thanks but no thanks...

[gretcheno]

H e l l to the NO!!

[kiran888]

let's be honest about one thing, Palin has become a really entertaining person in the past week, I really hated her from the beginning with her nasty remarks about community organizing and her egotistical mannerisms but now she is the butt of most jokes in america so I find her entertaining. to all those idiotic people who boycotted Oprah for not having Palin look even more stupid now. Oprah is strong enough to stand up to these idiots.

[gretcheno]

Yeah because when she opens her mouth she sounds more s t u p i d than before!


Keep talking Sarah!!

[kiran888]

I wish Tim Russert was still alive to see this election, he was so excited about Obama. I mean Tim was tough on all his guests on the show even on obama but he really saw Obama's vision for a brighter future. We americans know that we live in a great country but the rest of the world doesn't know that since "W" now maybe we can get that back with an Obama/Biden administration.

[CostaDelBarto]

Yeah... can you imagine how he'd deal with Palin?

Oh boy. One Russert interview and she'd be completely washed up as a political force.

As it is the only way they can keep her political fortunes alive is to keep her in a cave. Hey... a cave... hmmm.... I wonder if she knows where Bin Laden is.

[2876]

come on...Do you think McCain would have let her go on Meet the Press? I doubt it

[BlowHardPatrol]

there won't be a debate, because the GOP won't allow it. mcsame pulls one stunt after another, and if you think parachuting into congress to save the bailout was worth watching.......he has to replace her or have something occur that postpones the debate, or better said, cancel it..........i think she will be replaced, because he needs a very big distraction right now and she can no longer be that. ms. couric took care of that little problem. i say he replaces her with katie.....what an improvement that will be. of course i'm dreaming, he's already got enough credibility problems, replacing her would be political suicide. keeping her would be political suicide.

yippeeeeeeeeeee

[Gib]

Wouldn't it be fascinating to be able to eavesdrop on the McCain campaign discussions? They must be racking their brains to come up with a clever ploy. It'd better be very, very clever, because so many people are expecting a trick.

[mckinley]

And McCain's "parachuting", as you describe it, took 22 hours after he announced he was leaving New York City to actually getting to D.C....

[NevadaDem]

The V.P. Debate will be very interesting to watch. At this point...Joe Biden just has to STAND THERE to let us see he is Vice-Presidential enough...since a majority of voters know he is qualified for the position he is running for.

Sarah Palin...on the other hand...has the bar set much higher. She'll either pull if off *OR* the American public may be witness to one of THE most embarrassing political spectacles ever.

[CostaDelBarto]

Were you even serious about her pulling it off and beating Biden?

I mean Jeez... the only time Palin makes any sense or looks like a feasible candidate is when she's not talking. The most silent running mate ever. The least trusted running mate ever. Interviewed for 15 minutes... this was not a good choice by McCain.

Biden can juggle bananas and wear a clown suit and answer all the questions in song and he'd still be the more credible VP candidate.

[2876]

I woudn't put it past the republican to pull some kind of sneaky stunt. it aint over till it's over and we all know you can't trust rove and the mccain machine

[Moncar]

Next Thursday, Joe Biden can end this campaign if he's willing to take one for the team. Despite the conventional wisdom that he be polite and generous to his ill-equipped opponent, Mr. Biden must disconcert, flay and dissect Ms. Palin. Thoroughly, but courteously.

For the good of the country. For the good of the children.

He'll catch hell from the Little Foxes and all the other right wing zealots in the media and Congress and, most certainly, poor deluded Joe Lieberman. But, this farce has to end next Thursday night.

[shades3]

Biden can be the gentleman he is, deferring to Palin, letting her tie herself up in her own tongue.
He doesn't have to be tough, or dazzle anyone with his fancy oratorical footwork. He needs to just stand back and let Palin blab her nonsensical nonsequitors until she is standing there in her embarrassment, emperor-like, looking as foolish and ignorant as she is.
Let her talk herself into her own political grave.
YIKES!!!

[irishgawdess]

Joe Biden: "Um... what was the question?" No one will remember it after she gets done talking.

[Wileynight]

As I said awhile back commenting on another HP article. Give Sarah Palin enough rope and she will hang herself.

[Higherground]

I agree. All Biden has to be is nice and respectful, and hopefully the debate format will allow follow-up questions between the candidates. He can just ask the nicest questions. In fact, the more cordial Biden is, the better.

He needs to channel his inner southerner. The one that starts each sentence with "I don't mean to be ugly, but your running mate said/did..."

[DobermanTracker]

I live in Anchorage, Alaska and have watched Palin from her first day as Mayor of Wasilla.
Her interview with Couric was typical Palin with respect to her gross lack of worldliness, sophistication, education and intellect.

It is NOT going to get better.

I cannot imagine her and Biden in debate and I don't think McCain nor Palin can either, especially after the Couric interviews. I cannot imagine a narcissist like Palin not be outrageously angry at McCain for keeping her mouth shut and, obviously, agreeing that she has nothing to say.

I think she is afraid to quit as VP candidate--she has little to come home to now in Alaska--and knows that quitting, or debating Biden, are both the "death knell" for her political ambitions.

McCain is sorry he chose her, Palin is sorry she accepted and now neither one of them knows how to get out of this sorry mess and save ANY face !

I want to enjoy every minute of her humilation during the VP debtes. She will deserve every bit of it for Troopergate, for letting McCain campaing aids take over our state, and for being the dishonorable, disrespectful, dishonest person she is.

A "Hold Palin Accountably" rally was held to day in Anchorage, over 1200 attended: we want Palin impeached, AG Talis Colber to resign and be debarred by the Alaska Bar Association and for McCain to get his thugs out of our state !


Oh yeah, and "Free Levi !"

[foxinthebox]

Go on now and tell us how you REALLY feel!!

[MissCupcake]

WOW! Finally! I have a friend in Alaska that feels the same way. She thought she was one of a few...Guess not. Kudos to you for speaking out. Keep it up. Thanks.

[JulianJons]

I liked your post and I agree to most of it. But why "Free Levi?" Nobody forced him into that can of worms. If he doesnt want to get married, let him grow a pair of cojones.

[LaShon]

The "Free Levi" phrase is from a Bill Maher's (New Rules) skit. It's very funny.

[Punkynsnow]

Great post. I didn't agree with those who think she's been 'faking dumb' so as to surprise Biden. I think as you said she's been showing who she is.

Both she and McCain have painted themselves into a corner, it's a no-win situation.

Nice to hear Alaskans are fed up. Keep the faith, you'll get your state back soon!

[kiran888]

what the f*** I didn't like SNL's take on Obama, found it to offensive. They didn't make enough fun of McCain! But Tina Fey was great!

[ECB]

True

[grata2ude]

Agreed. In fact the debate skit was disappointing period. Now Tina Fey was great.........loved the

I wanna buy a lifeline.........Stil chuckling over that.

[michael d]

I really think there is a possibility that we won't see Palin on Thursday. I just don't see how it will happen. I'm guessing that she will, like any good social conservative, realize that her family should come first. She will, with much regret, leave the ticket. Conservatives will benefit as they will preserve their new spokeswomen. If she debates her career could be over on all levels and McCain can look forward to decorating his new condo in downtown Phoenix.

[Gib]

If she withdraws, who do you think will step in? My money is on Giuliani (yecchh).

[Shanti]

No wonder! She is a loose cannon that scares the hell out of her handlers! When I hear her sophomoric, non sequitur, and facile statements it scares the hell out of me too!

[peaches49]

ABC ought to be ashamed of themselves! They don't interview Joe Biden because Sarah Palin wasn't available!!!!! I guess that means we won't be hearing much from Joe Biden because Ms. Palin seems to be kept pretty much under wraps by the Republican Party.
Oh wait, I guess if I was the Republican Party I would keep her under wraps too!!