Palin Vetted Just Before Being Chosen

Mac picked in haste after conservatives nixed his two faves: sources

(NEWSER) - The steady stream of stories emerging about John McCain's brand new running mate has some Republicans wondering how thoroughly Sarah Palin was vetted, the New York Times reports. McCain has said he was aware that her teen daughter Bristol was pregnant, although aides are vague about when he learned of it. GOP insiders say it's becoming apparent that the selection was made in haste. More»

Campaign aims to do the opposite of McCain

(NEWSER) - Team Romney’s rule of thumb: Do the opposite of everything John McCain did in 2008, or so reports Politico in a look at the campaign's strategy. The approach applies broadly, say advisers—focus hugely on the economy, fully engage in fundraising, integrate early with the Republican National Committee—but comes most into play in the search for a VP. The campaign doesn’t want to end up with its own version of Sarah Palin, so it is going to great lengths to avoid anyone who could be seen as unprepared. The goal, according to one official: Go with an "incredibly boring white guy." More»

(NEWSER) - Sarah Palin’s return to Alaska from the national stage was not a pretty one, the New York Times reports in a look at the series of personal problems and political missteps that led to her surprise resignation as governor. Beset by a suddenly hostile legislature, ethics investigations, and strains at home, Palin’s allies pleaded with her to spend more time with her family and build a home-state agenda centered around creating jobs. But Palin, never one to take direction, instead dove into public feuds with Levi Johnston and David Letterman. More»

Comparing Palin and Kennedy is like comparing apples and zebras

(NEWSER) - Critics crying foul over the difference in treatment received by Caroline Kennedy and Sarah Palin are ignoring the power gap between the respective jobs sought, Kathleen Parker argues in the Washington Post. Both may have emerged without proper vetting, Parker writes, but Kennedy is seeking to be one of a hundred senators, while Palin could have had her finger on the nuclear button. More»

(NEWSER) - John McCain's choice of Sarah Palin continues to hurt his chances of winning Tuesday's election, a poll from the New York Times and CBS shows. In the survey, 59% of voters said Palin is not qualified to be vice president, up 9 points in a month. About a third of voters said the VP choice would be a major factor in how they vote, and most of those people are picking Barack Obama. More»