[BDBopper]

One of the many questions that will be answered tomorrow will be What is the impact of McCain's nomination of Sarah Palin. Most people will not see the forest from the trees on this answer and base it completely on the outcome of the Presidential contest. It's a little more complex than that. Even if McCain loses the nomination of Palin can still be a success. Let me explain.

For a moment get into my head. It's large so there's plenty of room. John McCain won his party's nomination almost by default. Even after the process he wasn't and still isn't very popular within the Republican Conservative base. I felt he neded to choose someone to put on his ticket that would appeal to the base. When you are selected as the Presidential nominee for your party you are now the standard bearer of your party and not only do you need to try to win your election you need to do what you can to help races down ticket.

While unknown to many, Sarah Palin was a great choice at the time that McCain made it. The issue of the day was still the economy but the component that was hot was energy. Then the financial crisis hit. Suddenly things changed dramatically. Palin didn't look like the best pick anymore because the economy wasn't her strong issue. If the financial crisis had hit a few weeks earlier the economic populist Huckabee might have been the best choice.

To make a long story short, In a very tough year for Republicans, that got even tougher with the financial crisis, Governor Sarah Palin will probably not help John mcCain win. However the base loves her and in picking her John McCain might get enough of the GOP base out to keep the other party from a complete landslide defeat (especially to try to keep the Dems from getting their Senate super majority).