Why can't Palin campaign in McCain's stead or make the debate a VP debate, or even move the debates to Washington?

This at least answers part of the Palin part. Sarah Palin almost answered a question from a real reporter until McCain jumped in and did the manly-man thing, saving his damsel in distress from having to answer a real question from a real reporter like all the other candidates in this race do on a regular basis. I'm sorry, strike that. Up until a couple of minutes yesterday, McCain hasn't had a press conference in over a month, so he's not answering any questions either (which kind of makes you wonder what's wrong with the 72 year old candidate who has 4 bouts of serious melanoma). CNN's Campbell Brown said last night that McCain's behavior, in treating Palin like some weak defenseless thing just because she's a woman, is sexist.


 Quote:
Palin gets question, looks to McCain, demurs

This is what happens when campaigns let reporters into photo ops. They get all uppity and ask questions.

From the pool report account of what happened after McCain and Palin's meeting with Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvilli and Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko:

[quote]McCain then looked around the room and gestured as if to welcome questions. The AP reporter shouted a question at Gov. Palin (“Governor, what have you learned from your meetings?”) but McCain aide Brooke Buchanan intervened and shepherded everybody out of the room.

Palin looked surprised, leaned over to McCain and asked him a question, to which your pooler thinks he shook his head as if to say “No.”


She finally was able to get an interview question in and now we see what McCain was so worried about:

Palin is in so far over her head, it isn't even funny. Watch especially at 4 minutes 30 seconds into the interview (video is below) when they have the following exchange after Couric asks Palin for examples of John McCain leading the charge for oversight of Wall Street:

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Couric: You've said, quote, "John McCain will reform the way Wall Street does business." Other than supporting stricter regulations of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac two years ago, can you give us any more example of his leading the charge for more oversight?

Palin: I think that the example that you just cited, with his warnings two years ago about Fannie and Freddie - that, that's paramount. That's more than a heck of a lot of other senators and representatives did for us.

Couric: But he's been in Congress for 26 years. He's been chairman of the powerful Commerce Committee. And he has almost always sided with less regulation, not more.

Palin: He's also known as the maverick though, taking shots from his own party, and certainly taking shots from the other party. Trying to get people to understand what he's been talking about - the need to reform government.

Couric: But can you give me any other concrete examples? Because I know you've said Barack Obama is a lot of talk and no action. Can you give me any other examples in his 26 years of John McCain truly taking a stand on this?

Palin: I can give you examples of things that John McCain has done, that has shown his foresight, his pragmatism, and his leadership abilities. And that is what America needs today.

Couric: I'm just going to ask you one more time - not to belabor the point. Specific examples in his 26 years of pushing for more regulation.

Palin: I'll try to find you some and I'll bring them to you.



Utter. Disaster.

Many reporters and analysts are saying that this is why McCain canceled the debates. To push up the remaining ones hopefully bump off the VP debate off the schedule. By all his other actions regarding Palin's access to questions and especially given her underwhelming results and the downward poll numbers AFTER she speaks to reporters, this is starting to sound more and more credible.