Last week’s column by former San Francisco Mayor Willie Brown in the San Francisco Chronicle sounded the alarm over the impact of Governor Sarah Palin’s selection as Senator McCain’s running mate noting the “Democrats are in trouble.” This week another column by Willie Brown in the San Francisco Chronicle continues on that theme.
For first time in modern history, a presidential race is actually going to be decided by the vice presidential pick.
Thanks to Sarah Palin, this is no longer a contest between Barack Obama and John McCain - it’s between Brother Barack and Sistah Sarah.
Rock star vs. rock star. Inexperienced vs. inexperienced. Newcomer vs. newcomer. Change vs. change.
His “change” is East Coast intellectual. Her “change” is NASCAR.
His change is wine and cheese. Her change is mayonnaise by the gallon.
And notice how everyone is calling her Sarah Palin - not Gov. Palin. That’s not good for the Democrats. It shows a certain familiarity that goes beyond just issues or her knowledge of the “Bush Doctrine.”
Heck, even I didn’t know what the Bush Doctrine was when Charlie Gibson asked her about it the other night on her first national TV interview.
The Democrats have got to get to the core of this new campaign. It’s not a pretty thought, but somehow Democrats must plant in voters’ minds that, given McCain’s age and his health history, he might not make it through the term if he’s elected.
Even if McCain does make it through a term, it’s not likely he’ll seek re-election and she will be the natural successor.
In other words, Sarah Palin may indeed be president someday.
Then there is the question of how to boost the turnout in key states.
Palin has become an instant heroine with the Wal-Mart crowd in Ohio, Nevada, Pennsylvania and other critical states. And Wal-Marters are a lot more likely to volunteer or show up at the polls than the younger people Obama has attracted.
Right now, the best shot Obama has of winning is to get out and register 12 million or so unregistered blacks, especially in the South. But he has got to do it without anyone noticing.
Palin will have no problem signing up new voters in her group. She can go to the Mountain Dew 250 in Talladega, Ala., and pitch for votes, and no one will bat an eye.
But Obama can’t go to a meeting called by Al Sharpton to get out the black vote, because if he does there will be a backlash.
He’s got to do it under the radar.
Obama is Whole Foods. Palin is all Wal-Mart.