John O'Sullivan is a fan of the governor's:
Palin seems to be one of those extraordinary, ordinary people that America throws up at irregular intervals. She combines conservative views with highly unconventional drive and ability. Her appointment has injected real excitement into the Republican campaign.
It would be foolish for the Republicans to relax, however. Obama is still ahead in the polls, if only by a few points, and this election campaign has already had more twists and turns than the Amalfi Drive. There will certainly be more twists and turns to come.
Yet that, too, may subtly help McCain. So far, the Obama campaign has consisted of a brilliantly conceived strategy to which the candidate stuck undeviatingly through successes, reverses, and - just recently - the doldrums.
McCain is the candidate who has adapted quickly and ingeniously to rapid changes on the political battlefield. He has shown an ability to exploit his own reverses. He surprises opponents. No one can sensibly predict who will win. But we can say that McCain won't lose. Obama will have to find some way of defeating him.
By choosing Palin, McCain has severed his connection to the media, which always has had a soft spot for him. He has set the conservative grass-roots on fire with excitement. He stepped on Obama's huge speech at Invesco field. He has the entire country comparing the Democratic presidential nominee to McCain's choice for vice president - a subtle reduction of Obama's stature. McCain's campaign has raised, to date, close to $10 million since he named his choice for vice president.
Not bad for a day's work.
