Game Plan for Palin Is Retooled Ahead of Debate (Davis, Schmidt Take Over Debate Prep)

The Wall Street Journal ^ | Monday, September 29, 2008 | Monica Langley

[kristinn]

The McCain campaign moved its top officials inside Gov. Sarah Palin's operation Sunday to prepare for what is certain to be the most important event of her vice-presidential campaign: her debate on Thursday with Democrat Joe Biden.

Additionally, at the urging of the Republican presidential nominee, Sen. John McCain, Gov. Palin will leave late Monday for his Arizona ranch to prepare for the high-stakes debate.

The moves follow several shaky performances by Gov. Palin last week and come amid concern and grumbling from Republicans, and even a few queries from her husband, Todd Palin, according to campaign operatives and Republican officials.

McCain campaign manager Rick Davis and senior adviser Steve Schmidt are planning to coach the candidate ahead of the debate, according to senior advisers. They traveled Sunday to meet the Republican vice-presidential nominee in Philadelphia. After her appearance with Sen. McCain at a rally in Columbus, Ohio, these top officials plan to fly with her on Monday to Sen. McCain's ranch in Sedona, Ariz., which they hope she will find a comforting place to prep, these people said.

SNIP

For his part, Mr. Palin has worried about the frequent separation of his wife from her family, friends and Alaska staff, an adviser said. Accordingly, her family will be with her in Sedona during this week. Also, a key Alaska staffer joined the Palin operation Sunday.

From her campaign's perspective, Gov. Palin isn't getting media attention for her contributions. For example, with foreign leaders last week, she had detailed conversations about the national-security and global implications of the energy crisis, one adviser said.

SNIP

But in recent days, Gov. Palin flubbed quasi-mock debates in New York City and Philadelphia, some operatives said.

[CatOwner]

But in recent days, Gov. Palin flubbed quasi-mock debates in New York City and Philadelphia, some operatives said.

Oh please let this be a setup. But if it does happen to be true that she's struggling with the mock debates and this carries over to the VP debates, expect that to be the news for the remainder of the campaign.

[ABQHispConservative]

HELL YEAH! Attack, attack, attack. Don’t let up. Expose the rats for what they are. To hell with the “new tone in Washington”.

[Thane_Banquo]

Luckily, she’s going against the dumbest man on Capitol Hill.

[Steve_Stifler]

So, does this story represent disloyal, self-serving McCain aides leaking stories to the press to curry favor or loyal McCain operatives leaking stories to the press to diminish expectations for Palin in the debate?

[PhiKapMom]

Gov Palin was being coached by Bush handlers that had joined the campaign recently. They should have never trusted Bush people that joined the campaign to help Palin because I have a hunch they were no help.

This is so much better and she will get back to being Sarah instead of what the Bush camp is pushing who wanted Romney as VP.

[GoLightly]

I heard the debate is going to be heavily weighted in foreign policy.

[Cicero]

I think this was a case of Sarah doing what the McCain campaign told her to do. She didn’t flub any interviews, they arranged interviews like the one with Couric that allowed the MSM to cut and paste and make her look bad.

According to another story, some of McCain’s guys, said to have been sent by Bush, were screwing up and mishandling her.

Let Sarah be Sarah. Hopefully she will now be handled by the people at the top of McCain’s campaign, who turned it around a few months ago.

Understand that she is the Veep candidate, so she pretty much has to let McCain’s guys do her scheduling. And they are the ones who screwed up and misused her.

[Maelstorm]

Palin will be ok. She does need to be prepared. Right now the game is to try to lower expectations for Palin. Palin can debate but she needs to relax and just be herself. She won in Alaska by being herself, she won the hearts of conservatives by being herself.

[amutr22]

Anyone have a opinion on why McCain “retracted” Palin’s comments on Pakistan?

[Don Corleone]

This is so much better and she will get back to being Sarah instead of what the Bush camp is pushing who wanted Romney as VP.

Correct me if I am wrong but is this the first contest in which no one from The CFR, Tri-Lateral commission or Bilderbergers is on either ticket?

[kittymyrib]

Their biggest mistake was having her subjected to the hateful Gibson and Kouric interviews. Were they nuts???
Since CNN reported this AM that Biden’s coaching team is telling him to ignore her and just give his stump speech attacking Pres. Bush, she ought to do the same and stick to reciting her record in AK. After all, the Left is all for equality, so they won’t mind that, right?
I would never agree to debates were I a GOP candidate. I would tell the msm to just file their usual reviews saying the Democrat won and saving everyone the dog-and-pony show that is done for the entertainment of the msm.
I hope the ratings are as low for the Thurs. debate as they were for the one last Friday.

[The Sons of Liberty]

McCain seemed a little timid and altogether too courteous to the rude 0bama in his debate. Only in the second half of the debate did he even attack 0bama. Palin, on the other hand, in her acceptance speech, attacked the “Community Organizer”. If she is a “Pit Bull with Lipstick” let her off the leash!

[6SJ7]

"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.

Yeah!

[DRey]

"People love Sarah Palin and she's got a unique personality and presence we need to bring out -- not shut down."

Now they're getting it! She needs to be allowed to answer they way she wants to, and quit making her say "John McCain," "John McCain," "John McCain." It's phoney and not her at all. She is a real American that we all know and love. That is her strength. They have tried to capitalize on that strength by destroying it. I think they've finally figured out their mistake.

[Islander7]

“I certainly appreciate Mr’ Biden’s 35 years experience in the Congress and Senate. I do not have that level of exposure to world affairs, however, I do know who was president in 1929 and who was NOT on TV after the market collapse.

Stand up Chuck!”

[babygene]

When the moderator of the debate tries to trap her, asking the name of the leader of wakastan for instance, She needs to give a flip answer like “I don’t need to know his name, he’s a man and all men are after the same thing...”.

[Paladin2]

My (optimistic) take is that Palin’s philosophy is at odds with McCains’s. Having McCain put a pig behind the lipstick is a tough transition. Palin should try to maintain her philosophy and take it to Biden. Let McCAin speak for himself and leave Palin to speak for herself. Palin needs to make sure she does not become a McCain clone. McCain is still an idiot. Palin represents a decent future.

[Emperor Palpatine]

Please. She doesn't have to say a word.

Plugs will shoot himself in the foot ten times in the first five minutes.......

[redangus]

First if Romney or some other competent candidate had been on the top of ticket we wouldn't be faced with a loser candidate that needed a Hail Mary pick like Palin to save his sorry a**. Second if you read the article they are sending Dole and Bush people to prep her. That's encouraging.