Analysis: McCain hits bump with pregnant pause of Sarah's secret
By Thomas M. DeFrank
Daily News Washington Bureau Chief
Monday, September 1st 2008, 10:46 PM
ST. PAUL - This was another storm John McCain didn't want to come ashore.
The GOP nominee and his top command did masterful work making over their convention to show sympathy for the human tragedy along the Gulf Coast; their handling of Sarah Palin's unwed daughter's pregnancy wasn't so crisp.
More than a few Republican eyebrows went up over McCain's judgment and his team's damage-control operation.
All families are dysfunctional in one way or the other, so most voters aren't shocked to learn that politicians and their off-spring have their problems like the rest of us.
Even Barack Obama wisely declared Palin's daughter off-limits.
"Thirty years ago America would have been shocked. Today, no," said veteran Republican political consultant Stu Spencer, who ran four presidential campaigns. "This story will go away in a few days."
There's zero chance Palin will be dumped from the ticket. The party's social conservatives, who have never trusted McCain, adore Palin for her gun-toting, pro-life views. Her acceptance speech will be the emotional pinnacle for a party that hasn't had much to cheer about in recent years.
Still, for those voters worried about her relatively thin résumé and experience gap with Democratic veep nominee Joe Biden, Palin's Family Affair provides fresh grist.
"Things happen in families, but this isn't the image you'd prefer to have hovering around the person who's a heartbeat away from the presidency," one senior Republican operative said.
McCain learned about the pregnancy "weeks ago," one confidant said, but concluded Palin's political assets trumped the baby bump.
"No matter who you vet, they all have problems," a McCain adviser told the Daily News. "He decided this did not reflect on her ability to serve and that people would be sympathetic."
Several GOP sources said the story should have been leaked before Palin was picked so it was old news by convention time.
"It's amazing they let it come out this way instead of getting it out of the way," one mused.
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