McCain signs on as Palin's VP nominee

Again, a joke-headline, but one that isn't too far from the truth. What was the last we heard from McCain, aside from those scurrilous attack ads from earlier this week? It's all been Palin, Palin, Palin. She had the interview on ABC last night (announcing we should go to war with Russia if they invade Georgia again... hello WWIII), she's dominated the media coverage, and when J-Mac and Palin make a joint appearance (which is the only kind of appearance Palin is making because the McCain camp is uncomfortable letting her off leash), Palin upstages J-Mac.

It's become so frustrating for me that I spent this morning's walk with the RR Mascot trying to think of what to write about McCain, precisely because I'm so sick of Palin. But, other than the ads, there doesn't seem to be much news from him. No new speeches, no sound bites, nothing. Even when he does make an appearance, such as on today's "The View", he talks about... Sarah Palin.

Historically, elections have not been won or lost on the choice of a vice-president. Dan Quayle is a perfect example of someone who made not a lick of difference, and Al Gore is probably another equally good example, albeit demonstrating the flip-side of the coin (one supremely unqualified, the other arguably more qualified than the ticket's lead). If that holds true this year, then my guess is the flash and excitement over Palin is going to fade as we get closer to the voting booths and people begin to wonder, "Okay, between McCain and Obama, who do I really like?" On that point, Obama's campaign should be feeling pretty confident.

However, Palin (for some reason I cannot fathom or, to the extent I do, I refuse to accept) is currently seen by voters as a positive indication of McCain's judgment, not a negative. Despite, or perhaps because of, the media's quickness to turn on Palin with such aggressive reporting, voters have rallied around her and, in so doing, McCain. For his part, McCain seems to be encouraging this.

In less than two months time, we'll learn whether this was a wise move on McCain's part, but for now the campaign seems to be more about a Palin-McCain ticket than McCain-Palin. It's a complete distraction from the issues, and one that the press has bought into completely.