John McCain's campaign pulled off a major coup and gave Barack Obama's post-convention bounce a flat by naming Alaska Governor Sarah Palin as his Vice-Presidential nominee this morning. She is a 44 year old mother of five children whose reputation as a tough political infighter has earned her the nickname "Sarah Barracuda" around Alaska poltics.

McCain picks up potentially millions of disillusioned Hillary supporters and undecided independents with this choice. He also not only solidifies the Republican base, but energizes it big-time. Palin is a life member of the NRA, a hunter and fisherwoman, pro-marraige and solidly pro-life. How pro-life? She had a baby ten months ago with Down syndrome (which she knew before the birth) and is a devoted mother to that child and four others. Her oldest son recently joined the Army and may be deployed to the Mid East soon.

I talked to former California Republican campaign manager and current Alaska Republican strategist Chris Nelson a few minutes ago. I worked with Chris on a congressional campaign in LA County 30 years ago, and found him to be unconventional, capable, and able to do a three point landing while flying by the seat of his pants. He is getting ready to leave for the Republican National Convention later today as one of 29 Delegates from Alaska. Chris is also a retired Army Reserve Colonel who fell in love with Alaska during his many assignments there and moved to the state over 15 years ago. He worked for the Republicans in the state legislature and directed a statewide effort that resulted in expanding GOP majorities in both legislative houses to levels we can can only dream about here in gerrymander land. 

"She's tough and people underestimate her" Nelson said of Palin " She reminds me a lot of Reagan in that she came on the state scene with little political experience and the good ol' boys completely disregarded her until she beat them". Nelson says that like Reagan, Palin repeatedly out manuevers her opponents and leaves them wondering what happened.

Sarah Palin began in politics as a young mother running for City Council in the small Alaskan town of Wasilla, population 6,000. She won and then became Mayor. Like many towns all across the country, Wasilla has been led for many years by a small group who had developed over time a sense of entitlement to their positions. When they resisted her efforts to cut the budget and implement efficencies, the City Manager and others found themselves out of a job. 

In 2002, she ran for Lieutenant Governor as a statewide unknown and surprised everyone but herself by coming in second in the Republican primary. She ran as the conservative in the race and picked up support from fellow conservatives that stood her in good stead two years ago when she ran for Governor. 

Then-incumbent Republican Governor Frank Murkowski had been involved in several scandals. A former US Senator, Murkowski was elected Governor in 2002 and in a very controversial decision picked his state legislator daughter Lisa to be his own replacement. Frank Murkowski came in third in the 2006 three way gubernatorial primary won by outsider Palin. The Republican establishment opposed Palin, which was the biggest favor they could have done her. No need to worry about her being tied in to indicted Senator Ted Stevens and Congressman Don Young - they've opposed her all along.

Sarah Palin is Alaska's Republican maverick - a perfect fit for John McCain. She's also the only one of the four major candidates with ANY executive experience. Sure, she doesn't have a lot of that experience as Governor (and Mayor), but who is Barack Obama to complain about that?

As the first Republican and second major party female nominee for Vice-President, Sarah Palin can tap into the frustration many women feel over Hillary Clinton coming oh so close to the Democrat nomination. That angst was heightened by Obama's blunder in not vetting Hillary as his VP nominee. So not only do many women feel that Hillary was unfairly denied the nomination, they now know she was never even seriously even considered to be Obama's running mate.

Democrat Vice-Presidential nominee Joe Biden is undoubtedly licking his chops at the prospect of debating Palin on nationwide TV in October. Biden has long been known as a vicious political attack dog who loves going for the jugular of his opponents. He would do well to visit the political ghost of his former Senate colleague Frank Murkowski first. My money will be on the maverick.