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Rove: Palin Could Be Worth Three Points for McCain

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September 04, 2008 8:58 PM

ABC News' Teddy Davis Reports: Former Bush strategist Karl Rove said Thursday that Sarah Palin could boost John McCain against Barack Obama even though academic research shows that vice presidential picks usually don't matter.

"I've touched base with a couple of political science professors, and they say, 'Look, vice presidential running mates typically have a small impact on the outcome.' In fact, one analysis shows less than one percent up or down," said Rove. "Sarah Palin has a chance to take that one percent and take it to a two or three percent impact and in a close election that may make a difference."

Rove thinks Palin could make the difference in a tight contest because of her potential appeal to suburban, independent women and small-town Hillary Clinton voters.

"Taking on Alaska's good-old-boy politics and beating the incumbent Republican governor might be seen as evidence of the political courage and independence voters are looking for this year," Rove wrote in Thursday's Wall Street Journal. "And with women more undecided than men, Mrs. Palin could add more than a point to Mr. McCain's total -- maybe two or three - which could make the difference in a close contest."

The former Bush strategist and Fox News commentator who has offered some advice to McCain's 2008 campaign pointed to Colorado as one state where Palin could make a difference. Rove said that in order for Democrats to flip the state, they have to make inroads among rural voters and do well in suburban counties.

"I suspect that Sarah Palin is going to limit their upward mobility with suburban soft Republicans and independent women," said Rove. "So this may be the one election in which the vice presidential nominee has an important impact."

"But let's not overstate it," he continued. "It's going to be two or three percent and the whole drama is going to depend on the presidential candidates and if they're close then she may help push it across."

Rove ended his comments about Palin at Thursday's Politico-Yahoo "convention conversation" in St. Paul, Minn., by mocking the media for framing its Palin coverage around the question: "Can she do it?"

"Let me say one final thing. She had a test last Friday and she passed it with flying colors," said Rove, referring to last week's V.P. announcement. "She had a test last night. But being the newest player on the stage she will also be the most tested and will be the most judged on the stage."

"Now," said Rove, "we're going to be hearing about: 'When is she going to appear on a Sunday talk program?' And: 'When is she going to do an interview?' And: 'When is she going to give an unscripted speech?' And: 'When is she going to give a town-hall meeting?' And: 'When is she going to answer questions on foreign policy?' And: 'How is she going to perform in the debate?'"

"We're going to hear more of these questions of performance throughout the next several weeks about her than we hear about any of the other three candidates and more than we've heard in recent elections about any candidate," said Rove. "[T]he compressed time frame and [her] freshness and newness on the scene are going to require people . . . in the media [to say]: 'How do we make this as an easy storyline?'

"And the easy storyline is: 'Can she do it?'" said Rove. "Like they did last night. The breathless: 'Can she walk out there, in those high-heels, and deliver a speech. Well, fine."

David Wade, the former spokesman to John Kerry who is now press secretary to Obama running mate Joe Biden, dismissed Rove's comments about the effect that Palin could have on the race.

"Good to see the stress of potential jail time hasn't cost Karl his sense of humor," said Wade. "Oh, Karl. He's a stitch of yesterday. I think of an old calendar and I think of Karl's face on it."

September 4, 2008 in McCain, John, Palin, Sarah, Vote 2008: Republicans | Permalink | User Comments (64)

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yes
yes

yes
yes

Posted by: Omentum | Sep 4, 2008 10:25:58 PM

hahahahahah
this is wonderful

Posted by: Omentum | Sep 4, 2008 10:26:48 PM

usa
usa
usa
usa
usa
usa

Posted by: Omentum | Sep 4, 2008 10:27:29 PM

Good to hear hamishdad bring up the ghost of Monica Lewinski.

As I recall, she was in the White House with another Democrat.

And, I believe it was a Democrat who endorsed Obama at the convention last week.

Keep reminding us about Monica and the last Democrat in the White House.

Posted by: Jayhawk | Sep 4, 2008 10:29:31 PM

more protestors please

Posted by: Omentum | Sep 4, 2008 10:29:51 PM

Palin has invigorated the country. Repugs are elated at her resolve, toughness, and genuineness.

Libs are rabid in their hatred of her. But, they hate everything associated with good in America.

She is worth 10 points on the Good Scale.

Palin/McCain 08

Posted by: LarryMan | Sep 4, 2008 10:32:58 PM

Well, she may add 3 points to his polling, but she just added 10 million bucks in 24 hours to the Obama campaign coffers. (LOL).

Rove speaks to hear his own voice. He should suck on some helium to make it more entertaining !

Posted by: Scott NH | Sep 4, 2008 10:34:10 PM

how about going to factcheck.org to see how many lies she spewed last night.

she WAS a great pick

Posted by: Omentum | Sep 4, 2008 10:36:24 PM

he is such a stiff.... do you actully want this guy to be president

oh this is sooo boring.

Posted by: Omentum | Sep 4, 2008 10:38:22 PM

I was so hopeful this would be a different campaign without all the negative personal attacks. I was so hopeful each party would take the "high road" and speak to the issues. I was so hopeful the era of sarcastic taunts and misinformation was over. That hope died this week at the RNC. As an independent voter, I will now support Obama. He is a refreshing alternative to " bad old-time politics"

Posted by: P Garrett | Sep 4, 2008 10:42:32 PM

slow down the teleprompter

goooooo slllloooooowwww

one word at a time

Posted by: Omentum | Sep 4, 2008 10:42:58 PM

The pro-Obama media is absolutely motivated to release polls that minimize Palin's impact, so don't be surprised if the bounce isn't big. But rest assured, a LOT of voters have moved McCain's way, and rightfully so. Palin is exactly the breath of fresh air America has been waiting for, and she's an absolute danger to the left. They'll do their very best to destroy her.

Posted by: Jim in OH | Sep 4, 2008 10:56:20 PM

When will Joe Biden be replaced by Hillary Clinton? Nobody cares about the plagarizing stiff? Joe Biden VP = Beau Biden arrest warrent for Larry Sinclair in DC.

Posted by: geevill | Sep 4, 2008 11:00:20 PM

Omentum,

Lets hear you give a speech after gooks have knocked out your teeth. POS>

Posted by: geevill | Sep 4, 2008 11:03:07 PM

P Garrett, well you do have a point. A massive, wealth-destroying, nanny-state socialist government run by amazingly brilliant politicians like Obama, Biden, Pelosi, and Reid is just the kind of refreshing change we all need to move our country forward. Pfft. I swear our national IQ is decreasing by the day. Behold the stunning results of our government-run schools and liberal universities!

Posted by: Jim in OH | Sep 4, 2008 11:11:06 PM

geekvill

oh please

Posted by: Omentum | Sep 4, 2008 11:35:49 PM

SARAH PALIN IS A FAKER...SO PLEASE, DON'T MISTAKE HER !!!

•PALIN: "[Obama] is a man who can give an entire speech about the wars America is fighting, and never use the word 'victory' except when he's talking about his own campaign."

FACT: On July 15, in a speech in Washington, D.C., Obama twice used the word "victory" in reference to Iraq.

"In fact," he said, "true success in Iraq -- victory in Iraq -- will not take place in a surrender ceremony where an enemy lays down their arms. ... I want Iraqis to take responsibility for their own future, and to reach the political accommodation necessary for long-term stability. That's victory. That's success. That's what's best for Iraq, that's what's best for America, and that's why I will end this war as president.

--------------------------

A week later in Berlin, Germany, on July 23, Obama used the word "victory" three times to describe Allied successes during World War II. And in a June speech about the prospect of universal health care, he said Sen. Hillary Clinton "will be central to that victory."

----------------------
•PALIN: "There is much to like and admire about our opponent. But listening to him speak, it's easy to forget that this is a man who has authored two memoirs but not a single major law or reform -- not even in the state senate."

-----------------------
FACT: The meaning of "major" is open to debate, but Obama worked with Republicans, including Sen. Richard Luger of Indiana, to pass legislation that would expand efforts to intercept illegal shipments of weapons of mass destruction and to destroy conventional weapons stockpiles.

While a state senator in Illinois, he sponsored two contentious bills, one that studied racial profiling by police and another that ordered interrogations in potential death penalty cases to be recorded.
-----------------------

•PALIN: "I fought to bring about the largest private-sector infrastructure project in North American history. And when that deal was struck, we began a nearly $40 billion natural gas pipeline to help lead America to energy independence.

That pipeline, when the last section is laid and its valves are opened, will lead America one step farther away from dependence on dangerous foreign powers that do not have our interests at heart."
--------------------------

FACT: That infrastructure project has not yet been approved by federal regulators. The proposed pipeline would ship natural gas from the Alaska's North Slope to homes and businesses across the United States. In June, the Alaskan legislature, with Palin's prodding, agreed to pay Canadian energy company TransCanada $500 million as an incentive to build the pipeline.

-------------------

•PALIN: "And I have protected the taxpayers by vetoing wasteful spending: nearly half a billion dollars in vetoes. I suspended the state fuel tax and championed reform to end the abuses of earmark spending by Congress. I told the Congress 'thanks, but no thanks,' for that Bridge to Nowhere."
-----------------

FACT: While serving as mayor of Wasilla, Alaska, Palin hired Steven Silver, a former chief of staff for Sen. Ted Stevens, to lobby Congress for earmarks. Wasilla received around $27 million in federal money, about as much as Boise, Idaho. Boise has a population of 200,000 people, compared with Wasilla's 10,000. Earmarked funds went to sewage improvements and improving roads connecting the town to a local ski resort.

-------------------
As for the Bridge to Nowhere, Palin initially supported using federal funds to build a $398 million bridge from Ketchikan to Gravina Island, which has 50 residents and a small airport.

It was not until the plan was ridiculed that she withdrew her support. Critics contend she still supports using federal money to build a 3.4 mile Road to Nowhere on the island for $26 million -- from the funds for the bridge.

-------------------------

•PALIN: While I was at it, I got rid of a few things in the governor's office that I didn't believe our citizens should have to pay for. That luxury jet was over the top. I put it on eBay. I also drive myself to work.
-----------------
FACT: Soon after entering office, Palin put the state-owned Westwind II jet that her predecessor Frank Murkowski purchased amid much criticism. When the deal fell through with the sole eBay bidder, the plane was sold offline.

Alaskan businessman Larry Reynolds paid $2.1 million for the jet after learning about it from Republican John L. Harris, speaker of the Alaskan House of Representatives.

Palin, as she said, drives herself to work. In July, her Chevy Suburban was rear-ended while driving from Wasilla to her office in downtown Anchorage.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Posted by: o. | Sep 5, 2008 12:48:41 AM

New CBS Poll out! 42 to 42.

Translation: McCain is ahead by 10. :-)

Posted by: Jim in OH | Sep 5, 2008 12:49:53 AM

"He's a stitch of yesterday. I think of an old calendar and I think of Karl's face on it."

Ok, that has got to be the best insult I have ever heard. Not because it's about Rove, but because it's just . . . fantastic.

BTW, shouldn't Geevil at 11:03 be removed for use of an ethnic slur?

Posted by: Gretchen | Sep 5, 2008 12:51:19 AM


to o. - seriously, you need check your "facts." I haven't so much squirming and manipulation in a long time. Oh wait, it wasn't that long ago, I just saw it from another Obama kool-aid drinker's post, trying to discredit a genuine, non-purchased candidate, Gov. Palin. Anyone who thinks Obama isn't owned by the Chicago political mob is a naive fool. I've drunk the Palin kool-aid - and it tastes great!

Posted by: indy4palin | Sep 5, 2008 2:13:11 AM

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