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Palin Energizes Conservative Activists

By Alan Stewart Carl | Related entries in 2008 Election, Abortion, Conservatism, Guns and Ammo, McCain, Palin, Veep

Despite criticism from several quarters, the Sarah Palin pick is being received very well by core Republicans.

Palin, say conservative activists, has instantly changed how they feel about [John] McCain’s campaign and spurred them to go to work for the Republican ticket.

First, though, they’re expressing their newfound fondness for McCain with their checkbooks. Since tapping Palin, the campaign has raised nearly $7 million online, according to McCain aides.

Most importantly for McCain, the two constituencies who are most energized by Palin just happen to be the twin grassroots pillars of the GOP: anti-abortion activists and pro-Second Amendment enthusiasts and sportsmen.

Palin is a staunch pro-lifer and a lifelong NRA member. Which means McCain can packaged his VP selection in two different ways. To the independents he can say: she’s a reformer who’ll bring real change to Washington. To the conservative base he can say: she’s a solid conservative who changes nothing about the Republican party.

Clearly the selection is getting reluctant social conservatives to jump on board. In the next two months we’ll see if Palin can ingratiate herself to moderates as well.

This entry was posted on Sunday, August 31st, 2008 and is filed under 2008 Election, Abortion, Conservatism, Guns and Ammo, McCain, Palin, Veep. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

6 Responses to “Palin Energizes Conservative Activists”

Jim S Says:
August 31st, 2008 at 9:38 am
But when the facts about how overblown the reform mantra she tries to push come out will the independents really be that impressed? Independents do pay attention and not just swallow the campaign ads and talking points. How many independents are really hard core social conservatives? She certainly is, not even believing in allowing abortion for rape and incest. I sincerely doubt that Palin will manage to impress moderates.
Dyre42 Says:
August 31st, 2008 at 2:09 pm
From what I’ve seen around town Palin is doing pretty well with the base. The dittoheads in particular seem to think she’s the greatest thing since talk radio.
gerryf Says:
August 31st, 2008 at 6:22 pm
Dittoheads=sheep

Rush told them she is great and so she must be. His listeners routinely embarrass themselves with their blind devotion to whatever he says. When Rush actually stood for besides Republican power, that was less annoying, but the collective conscious of the Limbaugh audience has checked out long ago.
BBQ Says:
August 31st, 2008 at 9:58 pm
They aren’t completely sheep, they never did get in line with Romney.
mw Says:
September 1st, 2008 at 8:16 am
Regarding sheep vs. independents, Rove Republicanism vs. McCain, this was an interesting bit from Sidney Blumenthal:

“On Palin: My information is that Karl Rove wanted Romney and pushed him. McCain pushed back. He really wanted Lieberman. That was completely out of the question. Palin is the result. One element of the Palin nomination is McCain establishing himself apart from the Bush/Rove political operation, even as his campaign manager, Steve Schmidt, is one of their creatures. From the outside, it’s often hard to figure out how vicious and divided the Republicans can be with each other.”
kelebek Says:
October 20th, 2008 at 5:54 am
When Rush actually stood for besides Republican power, that was less annoying, but the collective conscious of the Limbaugh audience has checked out long ago.

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