Gossip Mags Bash Palin— But They'll Be in Love Soon

GOP candidate aims for more conciliatory role in national politics

(NEWSER) - Sarah Palin hopes to become a less divisive figure in national politics, assuming she’s not headed to Washington with John McCain, the vice-presidential nominee said after voting today in Alaska, CNN reports. “If there is a role in national politics, it won’t be so much partisan,” Palin said. “It would certainly be a uniter type of role.” More»

Former in-law goes on the record for the Enquirer

(NEWSER) - The National Enquirer returns this week to its claim that Sarah Palin had an affair, this time naming the alleged lover as Brad Hanson, a city council member in Palmer (near Wasilla) and former partner of Todd Palin in a snowmobile business. To bolster the claim, the tab now says that "no less than three members of the man’s family including one by sworn affidavit" have reported knowledge of said affair. More»

(NEWSER) - Sarah Palin tonight played up her small-town credentials, cast herself as a political outsider, and took a swipe at her critics in the media during her much-anticipated address to the Republican convention, Politico reports. After formally accepting the nomination to be vice president, she took a not-so-subtle shot at Barack Obama. "I guess a small-town mayor is sort of like a ‘community organizer,’ except that you have actual responsibilities." 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»

Poll finds support still strong with base, weak with swing voters

(NEWSER) - Sarah Palin's surprise resignation has boosted her already strong ratings with Republican voters, according to the latest USA Today/Gallup poll. The poll found that GOP voters were slightly inclined to view her more favorably because of the move, although her ratings sank further among Democrats and Independents. Two-thirds of Republicans want Palin to be "a major national political figure" in the future, while three-quarters of Democrats hope she won't be. More»