McCain's Chief Strategist Defends Palin VP Choice

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — A top adviser from John McCain's presidential campaign who has criticized Sarah Palin's odds as a 2012 presidential candidate defended Wednesday the decision to pick her as McCain's 2008 running mate.

Steve Schmidt, who was chief strategist for the Republican's campaign during the 2008 election, said choosing Palin – then a little-known Alaska governor – helped the GOP gain ground against the Democrats and Barack Obama.

"I believe to this day that had she not been picked as a vice presidential candidate, we would have never been ahead, not for one second, not for one minute, not for one hour, not for one day," Schmidt said during a speech at the University of Arkansas Clinton School of Public Service.

"Her candidacy excited the Republican Party," he added. "There was huge excitement that transformed the race."

Earlier this month, Schmidt said Palin's presidential candidacy could be "catastrophic" for Republicans in 2012.

Schmidt declined to elaborate on his criticism of Palin and instead praised her Wednesday as someone with "great talents" in politics.

McCain said Sunday that Palin remained a formidable force in the Republican Party despite the criticism and that tensions are to be expected among campaign officials during and after a tough election.

Palin stepped down as Alaska governor in July and her memoir is coming out in November.

Comments

[balrog221]

Yea well ... She has very good eyesight and has read everything­... clearly qualified.

[ricmarc]

nobody ever likes to admit they bought a lipstick wearing pig in a poke. especially a bible and gun toting anti abortion christian one that happens to be a woman and will excite your incredibly base base.

Pig-in-a-poke is an idiom that refers to a confidence trick originating in the Late Middle Ages, when meat was scarce but apparently rats and cats were not.

The scheme entailed the sale of a "pig" in a "poke" (bag). The wriggling bag would actually contain a cat — not particularly prized as a source of meat — that was sold to the victim in an unopened bag. The French term acheter (un) chat en poche (to buy a cat in a bag) refers to an actual sale of this nature, as do many European equivalents, while the English expression refers to the appearance of the trick.[1]

A common colloquial expression in the English language, to "buy a pig in a poke," is to make a risky purchase without inspecting the item beforehand. The phrase can also be applied to accepting an idea or plan without a full understanding of its basis. Similar expressions exist in other languages, most of them meaning to buy a cat in a bag, with some exceptions

[ricmarc]

i guess no grass roots organization will hire him without a mea culpa.

[PartyofLogic]

Having "political" talents is a qualified statement and not exactly complimentary. When one is "political", there is generally manipulation involved. Nowhere does he refer to her abilities, knowledge and capacity to govern and/or lead. All she can do is "excite" the GOP base. Boy, if I were Palin, I sure would feel proud that at the end of the day, it all came down to physical attributes and an "aw shucks" demeanor.

[JiminNC]

This woman's facial contotions really irritate me. Spongebitch squarejaw

[ricmarc]

how dare you disparage spongebob with palin!

[craig888]

I like that word "catastrophic". It sounds so..... fitting and deserved.

[2010WillBe1994]

Yeah, the Dems like to use that word a lot in reference to global warming, health care legislation, not passing stimulus funds, etc. Democrats = the party of jackasses and scare tactics.

2010=1994

[PartyofLogic]

You are the personification of Palin. Inane.

[LeftLeanWing]

Can't you just imagine a President Palin mistaking the Red Button for the intercom.

"
Hell- Oooooo, this is Sarah .
Could you fetch me some of those McDonad's french fried thingees ?
Thanks Hon
"

[ElaineHe]

A few things though Schmidt - 1. what did being ahead at any point gain you? nothing. in the end you lost. 2. doesn't say much for McCain if you really think he didn't have it on his own to do well. 3. people got excited because of her mystique and novelty, not because she had any real substance. much like sea monkeys. 4. who slapped the ruler on your knuckles for speaking the truth the first time?

[ReservoirDog]

Poor Schmidt ! He had it right the first time

[Tennys Daughter]

I'm really tired of seeing this tramp's face.

[fabricnthreads]

You cannot blink, but you CAN quit.

[dennissinned]

Flash in the Pa(li)n.

[rudolfhern]

Palin must have taken him over her knee and sp.anked him with the b.utt of her aerial r.ifle.

[ginamarie101]

The affect Palin had on McCain’s campaign is akin to the benefits of taking an amphetamine (diet pill). There is this great blast of energy that is short lived, followed by a lower low than the original low. The only way to keep up the momentum is to take more of the drug, but eventually you WILL crash and burn.

[Dosadi]

Flip flop, flip flop.