Sarah Palin Loves Talking To The Media, McCain Blundered By Keeping Her On A Leash
If only she’d had free rein to do this sort of thing from the get-go:
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. — These days, Gov. Sarah Palin seems like a candidate trying to wriggle free of her handlers.
On Sunday night, she twice took questions from reporters, the first time on an airport tarmac without her press staff’s knowledge.
After landing in Colorado Springs late Sunday, Ms. Palin marched over to a local television crew and began answering questions on camera, sending the traveling press corps sprinting in pursuit, and her press staff scrambling.
“Get Tracey,” one campaign aide barked into his headset, calling for Tracey Schmitt, Ms. Palin’s ever-watchful spokeswoman, who rushed over to supervise the impromptu press conference. (Ms. Schmitt, looking distressed, tried several times to cut it off with a terse “Thank you!” in between questions, to no avail.)
Later that night, at a quick stop at an ice cream shop in Colorado Springs, Ms. Palin was asked if she could answer “just one question.” She smiled brightly in response. “Sure!” she said, and went on to answer five questions.
Sarah Palin was an inspired choice for McCain, but he may have squandered it by keeping a leash on her early on. Not only did it deprive the public (and most importantly his conservative base) of the most exciting part of his campaign, but it also gave the left and the media (same thing, really) the chance to develop a narrative about Palin being some sort of dunce not suited to national politics or national leadership.
In politics, perception is generally more important than reality. By keeping Palin on a leash McCain allowed a perception to form that she wasn’t ready for prime time. Palin has to fight that perception now, and with their ticket already at a disadvantage to a hostile, pro-Obama media that doesn’t help.
