Quote Originally Posted by Mr Earl View Post
Palin wasn't a major factor in the defeat. The economic meltdown and the lame Republican/McCain response to it killed them.
This is exactly as I see it.

McCain, the supposed maverick, had a golden opportunity to distance himself from Bush when he put forward the $ 700bn bailout plan. Bush was seated in the centre with McCain to his right nd Obama to his left. Both candidates keen to be seen as part of the big deal.

It occurred to me at the time that this was the golden opportuity for one candidate to distance himself from the plan and from Bush, but they both sat there like dummies.

Subsequently the plan has been approved, but interest rates have had to be pared back even further and still nothing has really improved. Obama faces an even worse situation in that there can't be a second bailout and the interest rate weapon has now been exhausted. It's going to get whole lot worse before anything improves.