With the elevation of Barack Obama to the status of Democratic Nominee last week in Denver behind us, I am glad that I am going to Minneapolis-St. Paul this week for the Republican National Convention. I had the good fortune to go to New York in 2004 to the National Convention and knew that coming to this one would be a top priority.
The announcement of Governor Sarah Palin of Alaska this last Friday seems to have electrified the base. Numerous phone calls from both family and friends came in between Friday and Saturday to discuss her addition to the ticket.
What was most amusing about the calls was that while more conservative folks uniformly loved her, more left leaning friends and family were "concerned" about her, about her lack experience, that she was "being used by McCain". Whenever someone that is supporting an opponent expresses a concern that "McCain may have overplayed his hand," I have to wonder whether there concern is really based upon the fear that it is a very good choice. Why would they really be concerned about her inexperience otherwise?
There will be an electricity at the convention because of her. The Republican base is excited, and the country will see why the party regulars are so completely enthused by her on Wednesday night when she is scheduled to speak after accepting the nomination.
