The surprise announcement of Governor Sarah Palin as John McCain's running mate last month invigorated many Republicans for the short term, but recent media appearances by Governor Palin seem to be spooking many of them as the home stretch appears on the horizon for the Presidential election. The Vice Presidential candidate who has been kept in a bit of bubble of late by McCain handlers, has only made a few forays on the media circuit so far, a less than well received appearance with ABC's Charlie Gibson, and a more friendly examination by Fox's Sean Hannity (see here and here) and this week's most recent sit down with Katie Couric.
It was this week's visit with CBS's Couric which seems to have unsettled some of the Republicans more than the other appearances. Not so much by the tone of Ms. Couric's investigation which wasn't particularly hard hitting, but rather by her handling of the inquiries and the lack of substantive answers by Governor Palin to some pretty basic questioning. (Watch here, here and here)
Her experiences with the media so far, probably won't result in any whirlwind press tour any time soon, it's expected that the cocoon that she has been wrapped in to this point will continue if not expand, with the Republicans becoming even more selective as to who will be given access to the candidate.
So far the Governor has not portrayed the image of a steady second in command, ready to take the flag should the President need to be replaced. In fact there is an undercurrent of concern over whether the governor is truly up to the challenge, or if she's possibly in way over her head with her potential new assignment.
Normally it's what is perceived as the liberal press that have been suggesting that the Republicans are in a bit of trouble with their VP selection, but now a Conservative magazine writer in one of the more prestigious of right wing magazines that has suggested that for the good of the party that the governor should step aside.
We're pretty sure that few of the Republican faithful are watching Olbermann on MSNBC or read the New York Times, but the National Review we suspect arrives on every Republican's doorstep and is more than likely a must read every morning on Republican computer screens.
Once Republicans finish reading Kathleen Parker 's examination of the Palin factor, those concerns over her suitability for the second most important position in the American government may grow even louder.
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What remains to be seen is if the call to move her off the ticket gains momentum, or if the Republicans decide to let the political universe unfold as it will.
