From what I know so far, in terms of getting himself elected, McCain swung for the fences and seems to have hit a home run. This seems to be quite unexpected in most quarters. A guy that calls our local afternoon sports talk show is Palin's brother in law. He lives in Linden WA but is a big Bama fan from Mobile. Even he was floored.
Some background that he gave: She's was a point guard on her state's HS state champion BBall team in Idaho (I think he said). She has her degree in journalism and writes all her own stuff. Athletic, attractive (appears to have had some 'work' done to me), married to one of the big dogs in the Alaskan commercial fishing industry. Can't find anything to hate yet for me.
