One Thought on the Palin Pick

[Snowcat]

I remember reading an article that suggested Obama may benefit from supporters who "feel good" because they are supporting a black person. Do you think this assertion is valid? If you do, does a "feel good" vote for a female VP work to counteract it?

[MikeWaters]

Originally Posted by Snowcat

I remember reading an article that suggested Obama may benefit from supporters who "feel good" because they are supporting a black person. Do you think this assertion is valid? If you do, does a "feel good" vote for a female VP work to counteract it?

Certainly some people might punch GOP because Palin is a woman. But some people will punch democrat because she is a woman.

Same goes for Obama.

Ultimately Palin's gender means less than Obama's race, because Obama is going for the presidency, not Palin.

[il Padrino Ute]

Originally Posted by MikeWaters

Certainly some people might punch GOP because Palin is a woman. But some people will punch democrat because she is a woman.

Same goes for Obama.

Ultimately Palin's gender means less than Obama's race, because Obama is going for the presidency, not Palin.

Mike makes a great point here. It's about the office of President, not the office of VP.

As for your question, I believe it was a better political move by McCain to choose Palin over any other possibility, as choosing Palin could change some minds who believe the GOP is about the good ol' boys and don't want women meddling.

[Ma'ake]

Originally Posted by Snowcat

I remember reading an article that suggested Obama may benefit from supporters who "feel good" because they are supporting a black person. Do you think this assertion is valid?

There is probably that effect, but I think it is more than counteracted by simple anti-Obama racism. There is unquestionably tacit racism, particularly east of Denver. In my wife's home town in Kentucky, some guy wrote a letter to the editor in the local paper saying he could never vote for Obama because he's black. (Gotta admire being candid, if nothing else)

A fair amount of the racism is from those who would otherwise vote Democratic, in the upper midwest.