In just eight days, Palin went from being the unknown -- first term -- Governor of Alaska to being the running mate of presidential candidate Senator John McCain. Palin is a self-described hockey mom who is an avid hunter, fishes with her husband, and cares for her five children ... one of whom is an infant with Down's syndrome.
Unlike former Democratic presidential hopeful Hillary Rodham Clinton, Palin is seen as a female with whom many American women can identify. She is a working woman who juggles being a wife, a mother, and -- oh, yes -- a governor.
McCain, and the Republican National Committee, looked to Palin to light a fire under McCain's campaign. She was expected to ignite the way voters view the rather subdued McCain, as well as offer an alternative for women who feel left out now that Clinton is no longer in the race. She is also expected to emphasize she is a Washington outsider ... something the Democrats can't do with Senator Joe Biden.
However, nobody could have expected the firecracker rise of Palin as she hits the campaign trail with McCain. While stumping in Colorado Saturday, McCain and Palin were greeted with chants from voters ... chants for Palin! In fact, since her coming out party in St. Paul last week -- her speech was watched by more than 40-million television viewers -- Palin is the reason many voters are gathering at campaign stops made by the Republicans.
Later in the day in New Mexico ... next door to McCain's home state of Arizona ... the senator admitted he was surprised by the crowds and the reaction to his running mate. "The response to her has been overwhelming ... it's been incredible," declared McCain.
Even admitting her unmarried 17-year-old daughter is pregnant hasn't taken the shine off of Palin's rising star. If anything, polls indicate her family's response to the pregnancy make Palin "more real." That reality charm was much needed in the campaign, especially considering McCain couldn't remember the seven homes owned by his spouse and his declaration that middle-class is anything under $5 million in annual income.
Some of this white-hot reaction by voters may begin to fizzle if the news media every get a chance to ask questions of Palin. She has become a household name in just eight days, but she has yet to face the probing query of reporters or the interrogation from the Sunday morning news programs. Once journalists have a chance to do their jobs, Palin may have to explain more fully her accomplishments. That includes listing the Alaska state plane on ebay ... the one she mentioned in her acceptance speech and implied was sold. The Chicago Tribune and other news outlets report the plane failed to sell on ebay and was, in fact, sold through a broker ... at a loss.
Nevertheless, she has rocked the McCain campaign. But is there a down side to this meteoric rise of Palin? Is she quickly becoming a so-call "rock star" with something similar to celebrity status? Could it be that same celebrity status which McCain said of Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama not so very long ago?
For now, Obama has treated Palin with kidd gloves. Chances are that will change should polls suggest Palin is pushing McCain ahead in the race for the White House. Chances are Obama will unleash his running mate -- Senator Joe Biden -- on Palin in the October vice president debate in St. Louis.
" ... or so this news junkie thinks!"
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