> The selection of Palin was always intended, in my view, to fire up
> the Republican base, particularly the religious right which up to
> then had been very noticeably unenthusiastic about having
> McCain as the GOP's candidate for president. While McCain
> cannot win the presidency without the enthusiastic support
> of the religious right, he cannot win with just them.
> So while Palin solved one problem that was facing
> McCain, it's by no means clear that she solves the
> larger problem that he faces, which is bringing back
> the independent and Democratic voters who had been
> enthusiastic about him back in 2000. In fact I suspect
> that over the course of this election campaign she
> may well prove to be a detriment to his achieving
> this larger and necessary objective.
===================================
Sounds right to me.
Palin's selection seems to have shockingly reminded white feminists, who were disappointed by Clinton's loss and who thought they might sit out the election, of the Republican ranks' deep antipathy to reproductive choice and other women's rights.
The DP women in this campaign provide another illustration of the obstacles the far left faces in trying to get disappointed progressives to abandon the party. It's not difficult to get a sympathetic hearing from leftish women and other Democrats about Tweedledum and Tweedledee when you draw their attention to the leadership of the two parties, to the convivial relations and ideological affinities which exist at this level.
But then they watch the conventions, and the the difference in the social composition, values, and objectives of the base of each party comes sharply into view, and dramatizes for feminists, as well as for trade unionists, blacks, Hispanics, gays, and others, what are the potential implications for the legislation, regulation, and judicial decisions affecting their interests. Then they're promptly pulled back into supporting the DP - as something more, it would seem, than just a "lesser evil", notwithstanding their frustration with the Kerrys, Obamas, and Pelosis.
The same dynamic is apparent in other countries where these groups support the social democrats against the conservative parties to their right.
But perhaps we're now on the eve of a crisis deep enough to lead to a shake up these traditional alignments. We'll see.