Whoda thunk this crazy political season?
— The campaign of John McCain, one of the early Republican frontrunners, crashes and burns before rising from the ashes.
— The crowning of the “inevitable” Hillary Clinton as the first female president collapses when a new “historic” figure, Barack Obama, steps into the race, prompting a dogfight that lasts for months, ultimately disappointing feminists for Hillary and bruising the “legacy” of Bill Clinton.
— Then Obama, his campaign flush with cash and eager footsoldiers, reverses course and announces he will not take public financing.
— Snubbing Hillary Clinton, the “change” agent chooses an establishment liberal, Joe Biden, as his running mate. Party faithful are underwhelmed.
— McCain, seeking to close the “enthusiasm gap,” chooses an unknown pro-life, pro-gun, young, Christian woman governor, Sarah Palin, igniting the party’s conservative base and stealing Obama’s thunder.
— Early media attacks against Palin fall flat, her convention speech is a revelation, and the polls reveal a stunning switch of white women voters to the Alaska “hockey mom.”
— Obama’s campaign suddenly faces a cash crunch, while donations flood in for McCain/Palin.
Obama is clearly flailing, overtaken by McCain/Palin in the polls. With Obama’s growing track record of changing his mind, I wouldn’t be terribly surprised to see the Illinois senator try something desperate to seize back the political momentum. Call me crazy, but I think he might take a mulligan on Biden and select … a woman. Is Hillary still available?
Stranger things have happened … and in fact already have.
