As it that's not enough:
The McCain campaign has put in place several other well-regarded advisers to Gov. Palin, including head of vice-presidential operations Michael Glassner, who has worked for former Sen. Bob Dole, and Mr. Eskew, who worked for President George W. Bush's campaign and administration.
The campaign and advisers attribute Palin's recent interview glitches to her being over-prepared with McCain talking points and not sufficiently prepped to let the real Sarah come through.
Meanwhile, the more experienced advisers assigned to her by the McCain campaign are accustomed to working with seasoned candidates, not someone "completely green on the national stage," one strategist said...." It's time to let Palin be Palin -- and let it all hang out," said Scott Reed, a Republican strategist.
In other words, the McCain team wants Palin to set out the McCain talking points but put them in her own words.
The campaign is sending in Sen. McCain's debate coach, Brett O'Donnell, to help with her preparation, advisers said. Though he always was expected to help out after Sen. McCain's debate Friday in Oxford, Miss., Mr. O'Donnell now needs to "undo" much of her previous debate prep, which has resulted in occasional "rote" responses, one adviser said.
....We've got four days," another adviser said Sunday. "People love Sarah Palin and she's got a unique personality and presence we need to bring out -- not shut down." Aides will work with her this week to be certain her responses use "her words," this adviser said.
Politico reports that two more Couric-Palin segments may air before the debate.
The McCain campaign is doing everything possible to lower expectations for Palin.
My translation of all this: At the debate, expect Palin to use her own jargon, peppered with colloquial sayings and plenty of dropped "g's" in attacks on Obama and Biden as being "too liberal." That's what went over big at the Republican Convention, and that's the "Sarah" they want people to rally to. In other words, take the focus off her lack of understanding of the issues behind the McCain talking points or her lack of preparedness to lead the country should the need arise.
Will it work with anyone besides the base? Does being "spunky" qualify one to be Vice-President?
I hope that as people look and listen to Sarah Palin Thursday, they ask themselves, "Will I feel secure with this person being second in command of my country or, in the event something happens to even temporarily displace McCain, the leader of the free world?
