Whether intended or not, and for better or for worse, Sen. John McCain's selection of Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin as his running mate is turning this presidential election into another cultural battle.
The right wing of the Republican Party is energized by Palin in a way McCain never could produce. The party's evangelical contingency, key to George W. Bush's victories in 2000 and 2004, never has warmed to McCain. But it certainly is red hot about Palin, a pro-life, pro-gun, self-proclaimed champion of clean government.
And Republicans understandably are happy to have their base back in the fold. The exuberance over the impact of the Palin pick was palpable during Tuesday's "opening night" of the Republican National Convention in St. Paul, Minn.
In Sarah Palin, the Republicans may just have found their "wedge issue" for the 2008 campaign. Now, Republicans will be able to vigorously attack the Democrats on issues such as abortion, same-sex marriages, gun control and patriotism. These are the "wedge issues" - employed so famously by the Karl Rove-run Bush campaigns. They create an "us vs. them" atmosphere. While divisive, they also can be extremely successful politically.
The "thems" in the campaign are becoming clear - the "angry left," as Bush said during his brief, video feed appearance at the convention Tuesday. They support abortion, retreat from war, higher taxes and prefer to portray the country in a negative light. They are the mainstream media - now an even greater target because of its coverage of the Palin pick and the controversies surrounding it.
Republicans also are making a bold attempt to drive a wedge through the Democratic Party's female base. Though their vice presidential candidate is the antithesis of Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton in political beliefs, Palin and Republicans are making a play for women voters who still may be bitter about Clinton's primary defeat to Democratic nominee Sen. Barack Obama. Even a little success in this effort may pay big dividends in November.
Finally, the pick of an extremely inexperienced politician for the Republican ticket may even be successful in pointing out Obama's shortcomings, as well. While some may consider their arguments intellectually dishonest, Republicans thus far have been effective in pointing out that even Palin has more executive experience than Obama.
Whether any of these arguments, and attempts to once again drive a wedge through the electorate, will work remains to be seen. They may allow McCain to pull off a November upset, or they may backfire. (They also have a habit of distracting voters from the most important issues of the day, which in 2008 involve the slumping economy and the financial hardships of a growing number of Americans.)
Palin's pick also may backfire if the current controversies continue or grow in number. If those problems persist, so, too, will the questions about McCain's judgment in the selection process. That could be damaging. And how Palin campaigns and debates also remains to be seen. She could be a big hit, or a disaster.
All of this makes Palin's speech tonight a dramatic highlight of the Republicans' convention week, for better or for worse.
The right wing of the Republican Party is energized by Palin in a way McCain never could produce. The party's evangelical contingency, key to George W. Bush's victories in 2000 and 2004, never has warmed to McCain. But it certainly is red hot about Palin, a pro-life, pro-gun, self-proclaimed champion of clean government.
And Republicans understandably are happy to have their base back in the fold. The exuberance over the impact of the Palin pick was palpable during Tuesday's "opening night" of the Republican National Convention in St. Paul, Minn.
In Sarah Palin, the Republicans may just have found their "wedge issue" for the 2008 campaign. Now, Republicans will be able to vigorously attack the Democrats on issues such as abortion, same-sex marriages, gun control and patriotism. These are the "wedge issues" - employed so famously by the Karl Rove-run Bush campaigns. They create an "us vs. them" atmosphere. While divisive, they also can be extremely successful politically.
The "thems" in the campaign are becoming clear - the "angry left," as Bush said during his brief, video feed appearance at the convention Tuesday. They support abortion, retreat from war, higher taxes and prefer to portray the country in a negative light. They are the mainstream media - now an even greater target because of its coverage of the Palin pick and the controversies surrounding it.
Republicans also are making a bold attempt to drive a wedge through the Democratic Party's female base. Though their vice presidential candidate is the antithesis of Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton in political beliefs, Palin and Republicans are making a play for women voters who still may be bitter about Clinton's primary defeat to Democratic nominee Sen. Barack Obama. Even a little success in this effort may pay big dividends in November.
Finally, the pick of an extremely inexperienced politician for the Republican ticket may even be successful in pointing out Obama's shortcomings, as well. While some may consider their arguments intellectually dishonest, Republicans thus far have been effective in pointing out that even Palin has more executive experience than Obama.
Whether any of these arguments, and attempts to once again drive a wedge through the electorate, will work remains to be seen. They may allow McCain to pull off a November upset, or they may backfire. (They also have a habit of distracting voters from the most important issues of the day, which in 2008 involve the slumping economy and the financial hardships of a growing number of Americans.)
Palin's pick also may backfire if the current controversies continue or grow in number. If those problems persist, so, too, will the questions about McCain's judgment in the selection process. That could be damaging. And how Palin campaigns and debates also remains to be seen. She could be a big hit, or a disaster.
All of this makes Palin's speech tonight a dramatic highlight of the Republicans' convention week, for better or for worse.
