McCain came through for party with Palin pick

Robert Novak:

Partisan Democrats and many members of the media consider John McCain's choice of Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin as his running mate a terrible mistake. But McCain need not worry about their criticism. His unexpected selection satisfied the people he needed to please. Republican conservatives assembling in St. Paul for the party's national convention were "ecstatic" over the choice.

Nor did the announcement Monday that Palin's 17-year-old unmarried daughter was pregnant -- but would raise the child and marry the father -- perceptibly diminish the enthusiasm for her in St. Paul by Republicans, who regarded the news as irrelevant to the vice presidential selection.

That is not only because Palin appears to be an outstanding candidate but also because McCain in his first test as party leader came through with a unique and responsible decision.

The party faithful had feared the worst, in view of McCain's long record as a maverick who enjoyed violating Republican dogma.

As recently as two weeks before Palin's selection, McCain's closest aides feared, in the words of one of them, "McCain would be McCain," by choosing liberal independent Sen. Joseph Lieberman, which would have deflated the convention and indeed the party on the eve of an uphill battle for the presidency.

But on this occasion, McCain made a politically ingenious selection. Whether the presence on the Republican ticket of a woman for the first time actually will attract disaffected supporters of Hillary Clinton is doubtful.

Gender politics aside, she is an ideal running mate. On the one hand, she shares McCain's loathing for earmarks, which are ingrained in the corruption-tainted politics of Alaska. She also has a good record in fighting off big oil, which plays a major role in the politics of Alaska.

Her election as governor broke the hold of the Republican "Alaska gang," whose senior members have been under criminal investigation.

On the other hand, she meets conservative requirements as an opponent of abortion and member of the National Rifle Association. That is much more than most people in St. Paul were hoping for.

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It is good to see Novak back at work. It was hard to imagine he would really quit.

Not only did McCain come though with a choice that pleased Republicans, but he ha also stood up to the media mad dogging of Palin after Monday's announcement about daughter Bristol. The campaign had a furious reaction to three attack stories by the NY Times and similar attacks on Palin's qualifications by CNN.

The sexist side of the media was exposed far more than it was in the Hillary Clinton Campaign. I agree with Novak that Palin is unlikely to reel in many Hillary voters, but she has energized the voters that the GOP can get and that may be more important for McCain.