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Perhaps the biggest secret of the Presidential campaign is the choice of the Vice Presidential nominee. The choice is revealed at the last minute and raises the stakes of the election game a great deal. It is often called 'the first act as President.' The selection is thought to expose strategy, temperament, and planning.
Immediately after it became clear that Senator Obama would be the Democratic nominee for President, he announced the formation of a committee to begin a search and vet potential choices. Even the meetings were shrouded in secrecy. Thirty-seven days before the decision was announced, and likely long before the decision was even made, Senator Obama had already hired former Senator Clinton advisor Patti Solis-Doyle and had staff in place. Solis-Doyle had read up on many of the potential running mates and had put together a working operation. By the time Senator Joe Biden was announced as the pick, they had already hit the ground running.
Then there is Senator McCain's selection process. About the only similarity is the secrecy. No vetting committee, in fact some wonder if there was any vetting at all. No secret meetings. In fact there is talk that some of those on the short list felt used by McCain, who unlike Obama, didn't first personally inform his potential choices that he had made another selection.
Worst of all, the nominee's staff didn't show up until four days after McCain's pick, Governor Sarah Palin of Alaska, had accepted the nomination at McCain's ranch in Arizona. Palin has been the Vice Presidential Nominee for over four days, and it looks like she may not have staff nor an office.
Forget that McCain only met Palin once. Forget that after weeks of derision about Obama's lack of experience, McCain picked someone with even less. Forget the questions about how prepared the Palin family are for the scrutiny they have received. Forget that McCain apparently made his choice only four days before the convention where he was to accept the nomination and both he and his VP would speak.
Sarah Palin's staff is still showing up on the first day of the national convention. Outlandish. Outrageous. If this doesn't spell 'incompetence' with the caps lock button broken, I don't know what does.
