Political Perceptions: Sarah Palin’s Big Night

Sarah Palin’s speech could have been better. But it still accomplished a few key goals – like energizing the party and attacking the opponent, writes The Washington Post’s Dan Balz . “Palin knew her targets and went after them one by one. It was an us-vs.-them attack, designed to attach Obama and the Democrats to the cultural elite and to tie herself and McCain to the values of the hardworking, God-fearing, patriotic middle of America. But while her speech seemed aimed at energizing the Republicans’ conservative base, Palin also sought to introduce herself as a fellow reformer with a maverick’s spirit to match the message that McCain hopes to send from here on Thursday night and through the rest of the general-election campaign.” And so the question is, “Will a woman who inspired the faithful in the Xcel Energy Center wear as well with millions of undecided voters while enduring the daily buffeting of a campaign that can cause even the most experienced to stumble?” CLICK HERE  ... (link)