Advantage McCain

How upsetting is the Sarah Palin selection for Democrats? Very.

Democrats, between sniggers of derision and snorts of disgust, contend that Sarah Palin, John McCain's vice-presidential pick is ridiculously unqualified to be president.

Questions about her experience lead to questions about Barack's - something he doesn't want people focused on.

It's a reasonable objection on its face except for this small objection: it
surely needs to be weighed against the Democrats' claim that their own candidate
for president is self-evidently ready to assume the role of most powerful person
on the planet.

When you do the comparisons, Palin looks stronger than Barack.

Obama: Worked his way to the top by cultivating, pandering to and stroking the
most powerful interest groups in the all-pervasive Chicago political machine,
ensuring his views were aligned with the power brokers there.

Palin: Worked her way to the top by challenging, attacking and actively undermining the Republican party establishment in her native Alaska. She ran against incumbent
Republicans as a candidate willing and able to clean the Augean Stables of her
state's government.

This is from Gerard writing for Real Clear Politics.

Political history
Obama: Elected to statewide office only after a
disastrous first run for a congressional seat and after his Republican opponent
was exposed in a sexual scandal. Won seat eventually in contest against a
candidate who didn't even live in the state.

Palin: Elected to statewide office by challenging a long-serving
Republican incumbent governor despite intense opposition from the party.

Inexperience. Just another reason that picking Palin was very clever.