New McCain Mailer Pushes Palin As Ticket-Head And Moderate

The McCain campaign and the RNC are sending out a mailer that pushes Gov. Sarah Palin as both the figurehead of the GOP ticket and a centrist.

A reader in Pennsylvania sends over a four-page pamphlet titled "McCain-Palin Solutions for Our Family," which labels as priorities for the Republican team non-traditional conservative positions such as climate change and stem cell research. The inset includes a copy of a USA Today article with the headline: "In targeting big oil, Palin 'governed from the center': She didn't press conservative views on lawmakers."

The next page includes a campaign statement on how "John McCain and Sarah Palin will work with Democrats and Republicans for sensible solutions." And underneath is a graph about how Palin "as the mother of a special needs child... knows first hand the value of advanced medical treatments research."

The final page is a photo of McCain and Palin which noticeably features the vice presidential candidate in a more prominent placement than the presidential candidate himself.

What's noteworthy here is not just the push to feature Palin -- whose popularity and favorability ratings have fallen drastically over the past few weeks -- in a leading role. It's also how consciously the campaign is trying to track away from conservative orthodoxy. The pamphlet was sent from a reader in Philadelphia -- obviously not the state's Republican stronghold. And it is tradition for presidential tickets to move towards the center as the election approaches.

But the desire to break from the party has really become a defining feature for McCain-Palin. Over the last few days, some of the loudest applause lines at their rallies have come when McCain declares that he is not George W. Bush.

Comments

[Palmz]

I thought she was always on top? No?

-:)

[lthuedk 1]

Gee, how surprising! Palin was chosen to be the next dictator on or before she joined the 1/2 ticket. This was obvious weeks ago.

And moderate? About as moderate as Rev. Hagee or Bill Kristol.

http://www.light-to-dark.com/sarah_cheney.html

Be afraid.

[ltva]

What is that called--subliminal messaging? At this point I think Palin is probably sorry she ever got involved with the campaign. She had a nice little life back in Alaska as dictator with her husband co-dictating. Now that the dirt is out on the both of them; I don't think the good people of Alaska will be so happy with the governor.

[HowietheScreamer]

Don't be so sure... Alaska is a VERY VERY weird place.

[LolaP]

well she done it to her self.. greedy. She should've just said no to McCain's offer. Know thyself, innit. She's not qualified and if she had any brains at all she'd know that.

[Otaku1031]

To paraphrase Harry Callahan, "A person's got to know their limitations." I guess that's why its called "blind" ambition.

[mamala4]

Oh no, I disagree....she loves EVERY minute of the attention...too bad she didn't even realize they were mocking her on SNL....

[Ohg]

This McCain/Palin, Unstable/Unable ticket has been upside down from the beginning. ...........................

http://thefiresidepost.com/2008/10/19/the-ayers-of-christian-redemption/

[Blue in NH]

Or as I like to call them Rocky the Squirrel and Palin the Moose.

[Brebro]

Is it just me? Or does it seem as though Sarah Palin has gained like 15 lbs since this thing started?

[Blue in NH]

She's going for the Hillary look.

[Stephanie71]

While her face looks a tad fuller I'm just going to say its likely the kevlar vest under her jackets. I think she's a runner though and I doubt she gets to do that much now (at least not since her debate prep vacation at Casa McCain #1).

[LolaP]

why is he doing this? why why why. go and play golf or something. kick back and have a pina colada in the sunshine. the stress of this campaign can't be good for his little heart at this point. he seems frail and his whole campaign is such a mess it's like, why do this to yourself? And now, after a long and respected career this idiotic campaign will probably be what he's remembered for.. It's kind of sad and unnecessary. I

[Shadow08]

You're right. Today, again, the first words out of his mouth were Joe the plumber. The country has moved on with the huge rallies for Barack over the weekend, the Powell endorsement and John is still stuck in the plumber warp.

[tuttlemsm]

McCain in the last image looks ghostly, as if given the "in memoriam" treatment.

It's a not-so-subliminal message that McCain is a place-holder, and Palin is the real candidate.

[Shadow08]

Perhaps they are trying for a sympathy vote.

[GeezerusMaximus]

I noticed that too. I found it very revealing, and a bit morbid too.

[tuttlemsm]

Could you possibly imagine a framing of Obama and Biden like this?

It is morbid. Absolutely.

[zumpie]

I agree, but she has a serious smug bitchface on. Not a pleasant image. So their new "strategy" is "we now support everything we opposed and here are some pictures supporting all the bad things people say about us".

I really think their campaign staff secretly works for Obama/Biden.

[Blue in NH]

This combined with McCain's rather rueful comment about having had a good life makes me wonder whether his cancer has returned and that he doesn't have long to live.
.

[Shadow08]

His comment did seem to have an inner message of resignation.

But, he still wanted to leave this country in Palin's hands.

That is the epitome of bad judgement.

[CharlesJ]

Okay, that is a clear message. McCain will not beable to complete his first term and the republican party is pretty much saying so. There is now way Palin is qualified, to run this country. She is severely lacking in all areas as to leadership, decision making, basic knowledge of the world, basic knowledge of the America, knowledge of the American and world economies, the list goes on and on.
Maybe they are trying to set her up for 2012, but I do not see that. In fact I predict that Palin upon returning to Alaska recalled for ethics violations, that the real truth of her administration will come to light. I would not be surprised one bit if she does not face prosecution in some for or the other for her conduct as the Govenor. That is just my gut feeling.

[Shadow08]

I don't think they can set her up for 2012. She just doesn't have the education to compete in a republican primary. In 2012 the GOP is going to come with better, stronger more intelligent and more ariticulate candidates. She will not be on the same playing field with her degree in journalism and her incessant jibberish.

[tuttlemsm]

Maybe it's a good thing for Tim Pawlenty that he wasn't tapped. He's looking very good as a smart moderate for 2012.

See also: Bobby Jindal.

[rj610]

i love the way her aids keep her away from the news because it just depresses her. what will they do should they happen to win? there's pretty much bad news all the time--will she be shielded and just think that everything is all rosey? it looks to me like we'd have one depressed president should the palin/mccain ticket be successful.

[Myshkin57]

I just have to say this: why do people find her attractive? At least 1/2 the women her age that I run into randomly are more attractive... and that's before words come out of Pali n's mouth.

[sclucie]

i know it is wildly incorrect to address this, but i agree. but there is definitely something there. she is the choice of the budweiser boys in their 30s and the dreamy old men in their 70s. i don't think that's what she wants to be- but she is. let's hope there aren't too many of them.

[KenHussein]

Palin is cute -but nutty. That doesn't mean there isn't any better looking women out there -the more the better.

[Shadow08]

I don't get it either.

[tuttlemsm]

The last image is downright creepy. It presents the image of McCain as a cloudy memory--- as you would present a beloved grandfather who had recently passed away. While the Palin image, in the meantime, is solid and vibrantly colored.

The subliminal message is clear. They are presenting McCain as a placeholder (who will soon die), and Palin as the real candidate.

[tydicea]

McCain is the ultimate panderer! He thinks having her headline will the way to the women's vote.

[tuttlemsm]

A comment occurs to me regarding the first picture (of the four), but I don't want someone calling Godwin's Law on me, so I'll pass.

[Shadow08]

Understood & agreed.

[Knowbetter]

Aha! He's a UT alumnus. Go Horns! http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Godwins_law

[Navy26Yrs]

Back to Alaska, Sarah.

The moose are calling.

[alguien]

it looks like something the jehovahs witnesses distribute.

[tuttlemsm]

Yep, they're leading in that big Jehovah's Witness non-voter vote.

[HedCase]

lol. or a condolence card. that last panel looks like sarah thinking of her Dear Departed