[frogjerk]

No other Republican candidate would be leading Obama, given that the economy has suffered major blows late with the sharp fall of the stock market. 401 K’s are melting and Americans associate Bush with any Republican

You are probably right. Without Palin it would be much worse.

[Embargo]

The race was close at the end of the convention. Palin was unknown. Her current image was shaped in the minds of millions through the early interviews that did not show her in a favorable intellectual light.

When the economy tanked and the severity of the problems facing the country became increasingly clear, many millions of moderate people had second thoughts about McCain because he chose Palin.
Polls have repeatedly shown that most Americans (including conservatives) do not believe that the Gov. is capable of assuming duties in the oval office today. (maybe someday, but not today)

Because of McCain's age, millions are not rejecting republican policies, they are rejecting Gov. Palin.