The Cutting Edge

Armstrong Williams

In the fall of 2007, we took a production crew to Alaska for our annual taping of the RightSide television broadcast. While there, we heard quite a buzz about this woman named Palin, and the fact that she would one day be someone’s vice-presidential candidate. Keep in mind that this was 2007, and 80% of the country had never heard of Sarah Palin. It struck me that even though so many Republicans had issues with her at the time, they strongly urged us to interview her while in Alaska. 

Before returning home, we made a call to Palin’s office, and, lo and behold, were given an hour to spend with her and interview her on camera. As someone who unabashedly believes in God, and finds moral striving to be critical in today’s America, I was surprised to discover that we both shared a Pentecostal upbringing. In our profession, we get to interview people of all walks of life. Yet we were so impressed by this woman called Palin, her unwavering faith in moral absolutes, and her warmth and sincerity towards our production crew, that we found ourselves feeling almost awestruck upon leaving her offices.  

Back in Washington that fall, when we mentioned Governor Palin to insiders, many of them considered it laughable that she would one day be considered someone's vice-president; so the interview and our experience lay dormant. Fast forward to where we are now and Senator Barack Obama’s decision not to select Senator Hillary Clinton as his running mate, and out of the wild blue yonder, McCain selects Palin as his. Who would have ever thought that Palin, an unknown and, in some minds, untested small state Governor could have had such an impact on women voters and the conservative base so quickly?

Given the complex challenge that the selection of Palin as McCain’s running mate poses for the Obama-Biden ticket, one has to wonder deep down just what Hillary Clinton is thinking and feeling. Have you noticed that she only criticizes McCain and shows deference to Palin? One has to feel deep down that Senator Clinton is just as ecstatic about the selection of Governor Palin as the Republican base is. Why? It is known in many circles that former President Bill Clinton has assumed that Senator Obama will lose the election in November, and he has even predicted the margins of defeat. The Clintons, given their incredible instincts and understanding of the political landscape much relish the fact that McCain will be 76 in 2012, and, no matter what, Americans will not be ready for Palin as President. In fact, the Clintons must feel that the stars are aligned for them, because in 2012 it will be a cinch for them to capture their party’s nomination and beat either an aging McCain or an inexperienced Palin.

One can only conclude that the current scenario spells doom for the Clintons’ enthusiasm for an Obama victory in November. So, Senator Obama, it is fair to say, made a colossal mistake in selecting Senator Joe Biden as his running mate and not a woman. He did not realize that he gave McCain a great opportunity to play his greatest trump card. So he found a woman, five kids in tow, one suffering from Down syndrome, who is not only resonating with the American people, but has literally displaced Senator Barack Obama as the phenom and the celebrity in this race.

The choice of Palin seems to have helped McCain close the gender gap. Recent polls have shown that the sizeable lead for Senator Obama among white women has now been narrowed, and that McCain and Obama are running about equal with white women voters. McCain has also closed the gap somewhat on the economy, with Obama retaining only a narrow advantage in what was previously seen as a strong point; this is utterly incredulous at a time when the current Republican administration facing the highest unemployment levels in fifteen years.

Forget about what the pundits are predicting. Toss out all the playbooks and textbooks over the past election cycles; there is nothing in the history of presidential politics that can now give us an indication as to who will be the ultimate victor. Analysis of the electoral map reveals the possibility of another Bush-Gore scenario. If Senator Barack Obama does not stop the bleeding and snatch the flavor-of-the-month away from Palin, he could find himself carrying only a few states going into November. What should worry the Obama campaign the most though is that he peaked too soon and reached his ceiling. He now seems all over the place, compromising on issues that he was firm on in the past—all evidence that he is confounded with the burgeoning McCain-Palin celebrity-dom.

Cutting Edge Columnist and syndicated comentator Armstrong Williams hosts “The Armstrong Williams Show” is broadcast on WPGC-AM TALK 1580 in Washington, and XM Satellite Power 169.