[TonyB06]

I thought Palin's presentation was good (as a former tv journalist, she knows how to read from a teleprompter) and played well in the convention hall. How the speech played in the country, specifically in the mind of independents, is yet to be known.

This was her first introduction and those are lasting. Was the sarcasm, expected in a VP nominee's speech, too consistent for someone so unknown to the country? People take what you say when they know you, the existing relationship conferring a level of trust to your words. Nobody knows Palin yet, so who knows how her comments will come off, or what it will do to her campaign image?

I thought her speech needed to say something about economic solution ideas for sevearal reasons. One, that's not really been discussed much from the RNC podium to date (in the coverage I've seen), and two, the logistical fact that McCain is going up against NFL Football tonight (Redskins v. Giants) -- so I think the RNC convention, already effectively shortened a day by Hurricaine Gustav, has probably had the largest audience it's going to have.