It's All About Sarah

How can one woman do so much in so little time?

That's the question being asked by Republicans, Democrats, journalists, political pundits, and just about everybody else when it comes to Republican vice presidential candidate Governor Sarah Palin. It was just about one week ago when Palin was introduced as Senator John McCain's running mate. In that time Palin has taken the political season by surprise. According to a Gallup poll, since the Republican convention the McCain campaign has had an 11-point bump in the polls, making the race a statistical dead heat among registered voters.

Additionally, she has helped with white female voters. An ABC News - Washington Post survey shows white woman have moved from Democratic candidate Senator Barack Obama by eight points to supporting McCain by 12-points. That was just one of the hopes Republicans had when considering Palin ... finding a way to lure in supporters of Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton who lost her bid for her party's nomination.

Palin -- the first term governor of Alaska and mother of five children -- has also help McCain's bank account. According to the Republican National Committee, Palin's addition to the ticket brought in more than $1-million within the first 24-hours of her running for the second highest elected position in the country.

She has also scored big with conservatives and evangelicals with her total anti-abortion stance even in cases of rape and incest, plus her support of hunting and guns. Palin is a born-again evangelical who recently gave birth to a son with Down's syndrome.

But while Palin has scored big with McCain, Republicans, and crowds on the campaign trail, she is still untested when it comes to defending her political record and answering questions from journalists.

Obama and his running mate, Senator Joe Biden, gave Palin a bit of a honeymoon period before pointing out what they believe are inconsistencies in her record. It may have been that they were gracious toward the surprise Republican pick. However, it most likely is because they were as surprised as everybody else with her selection, and needed time to collect their ammunition.

With that ammunition in hand, both Obama and Biden took aim at the 44-year old Monday. "Let's get the facts clear here. When she was mayor, she hired a Washington lobbyist to get earmarks -- pork barrel spending -- all the things John McCain says is bad, she lobbied to get," claimed Obama while speaking in Michigan.

And in Wisconsin, Biden took his turn shooting holes into Palin's stance. "Hopefully by the time the debates take place, we'll have a better sense of her other than some of what she says and what appear to be some very extreme views," he said.

So far, Republicans have kept Palin away from journalists who are anxious to do their jobs and ask the important questions. Not once since her introduction to the country has she answered even a single question. Could it be that Palin doesn't know the "party line" and can't be set out until she has learned the Republican Platform? Maybe she doesn't know McCain's views and, therefore, can't be sent out like a lamb going to the slaughter house?

One can only assume she is a quick study, because ABC News is set to get the first opportunity to interview Palin. Charlie Gibson will be in Alaska Thursday to question Palin and to anchor a live newscast.

Next up will be to see what -- if any -- stance will be taken when Clinton and her former-president husband Bill Clinton campaign on behalf of Obama. Will Hillary Clinton single out Palin -- instead of the McCain-Palin ticket -- and take a swipe at another woman who is set to make history if elected? Chances are she will not target another woman ... especially if she wants to make another run for the White House in the next four or eight years.

" ... or so this news junkie thinks!"