Palin pick changes everything

Inter Lake editorial

The selection of Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin as John McCain's running mate was a bold move that will likely have the effect of blunting Barack Obama's campaign on several fronts.

For starters, it should hold some sway in Western states including Montana, where voters will be considering who they identify more closely with: an Arizona senator and an Alaskan governor or a senator from Chicago and his running mate, a 35-year senator from Delaware?

Palin should earn some kudos from people who care deeply about Second Amendment issues, considering she is a card-carrying National Rifle Association member, and is an avid hunter and angler.

Then there is the obvious appeal she could have with women, maybe even women who once planned to vote for Hillary Clinton.

On the conservative front, Palin has been an energizing surprise, capturing the attention of evangelicals, pro-lifers, traditional Catholics and others who simply admire a hard-working mother of five.

Of course, some people are saying Palin doesn't have enough experience to be a heartbeat away from the presidency. It's true that she doesn't look or act like a career politician, but we're not sure that is a bad thing. And Palin is the only candidate in the race with actual executive experience, being a former business owner, a former mayor and governor for the last two years.

Of course, the two sides are already parsing over what defines "experience," with the Obama campaign claiming that her resume is thin on things such as national security matters. A potent counterattack, however, is aimed not at her counterpart in the race, Sen. Joe Biden, but directly at Obama and his record of being a lawyer, community organizer, state senator, and U.S. senator for the last four years.

There has also been somewhat of a media-dustup over news that Palin's 17-year-old daughter is pregnant, as if that reflects poorly on the governor's parenting abilities, and furthermore on her governing abilities.

Scrutiny of Palin's daughter has been petty, and hopefully it will not continue because it is a private matter, especially from the girl's standpoint. It is inconsistent with the hands-off manner in which the children of candidates and office-holders have been treated in the past: Think of Chelsea Clinton or Barbara and Jenna Bush.

By all means, Palin's critics can focus on her judgment, her actions, her record, her politics. And they will because it is clear she has had an impact already.

If nothing else, Palin's selection has made the race much more dynamic than it was just one week ago.