Palin Brings Celebrity To McCain Campaign

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Election 2008

Palin Brings Celebrity To McCain Campaign

by Scott Horsley

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Morning Edition, September 8, 2008 · When Republican presidential nominee John McCain and running mate Sarah Palin landed in Albuquerque, N.M., a couple of nights ago, Palin posed for more airport pictures and signed more autographs than McCain did.

The 44-year-old governor of Alaska has suddenly become the biggest crowd-pleaser on the GOP ticket. And McCain couldn't be happier.

McCain is now in the happy position of a Hollywood producer who's discovered a supporting performer capable of stealing the show. He and his advisers are quickly writing new scenes for Palin. Instead of splitting up over the weekend as planned, the two candidates will now share the spotlight at joint rallies in three more battleground states: Missouri, Ohio and Pennsylvania.

"The response to her has been overwhelming," McCain told supporters in Albuquerque on Saturday night. "It's been incredible. She's ignited America."

Palin certainly ignited the crowds over the weekend. In Colorado Springs, thousands of people filled an airplane hangar with the kind of zealous enthusiasm that President Bush used to inspire.

"For the first time, I was extremely excited about this race," said Carmen Swank, after Palin was added to the GOP ticket. "I liked John McCain. I was already leaning towards him. But she sealed it for me."

Like the Alaska governor, Swank is a mother of five.

"It makes it very human for those of us who are stay-home moms. I have a college education. But I've chosen to stay home with my kids. But I respect her so much," Swank said. "And I also love what she's accomplished in Alaska. I love that she takes the punches and comes back punching again."

Linda LaLonde, who lives in Pueblo, Colo., had watched Palin on television during the GOP convention. She was so impressed, she got up at 5 a.m. to be one of the first in line to see her in person.

"I loved her statement, when she said she's a pit bull with lipstick," LaLonde said. "I thought that was wonderful."

Palin has already shown she can deliver a biting attack on the Democrats without losing her smile. One of the hand-painted signs at the Colorado Springs rally said, "Read Her Lipstick."

To be sure, Colorado Springs is friendly Republican territory, home to Christian conservatives and the Air Force Academy. While Palin can fire up the base here, it's not clear she can attract independent voters. And she hasn't yet been tested to answer questions without a script.

Still, the self-described "hockey mom" does give the Republican Party a colorful story to tell. And Palin's account of budget-cutting in Alaska has more kitchen-table resonance than it would coming from a multi-millionaire like McCain.

"I love to drive myself to work," Palin told the crowd. "And you may have heard, we did lay off the governor's personal chef. Though I do admit with that one, my kids aren't starving, but they sure do miss her."

It's a message aimed at any woman who's juggled work and family life — like Sheri Shanahan of Denver, who wore a campaign button that said, "Go Girl."

"I'm a professional woman," Shanahan said. "I don't have five children, but I have two children. I've battled a man's world. And I think she's doing a great job."

Shanahan can even identify with Palin's hairstyle, although she said her own updo was not patterned after the vice presidential nominee's.

"I was wearing my hair like this before I saw her," Shanahan said.

Palin is now attracting the same kind of "celebrity" buzz that the McCain campaign ridiculed when it was centered on Barack Obama. She's on the cover of gossip magazines. USA Today reports a run on her style of eyeglasses. And she's helping McCain draw much bigger, more passionate crowds than he did on his own. Suddenly, for the McCain camp, being a celebrity is not all bad.

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