Palin Tries To Recapture McCain's N.H. Magic

(CBS)

From CBS News' Scott Conroy:

(DOVER, N.H.) Her native Alaska may be half a world away from New Hampshire, but at a high school gymnasium rally here, Sarah Palin portrayed herself as a kindred spirit to the crowd of a little more than 1,000 people—the smallest that has greeted her on the campaign trail yet.

"I know that we can count on the good people of New Hampshire because you're a lot like the people of Alaska," Palin said. "We all love good moose hunting, I know that, and we both so enjoy our great lands: the clean water, and the fresh air, and the abundant wildlife and good fishing. We love being outdoors. I know that that is New Hampshire also, and we both, too, take seriously your state's motto—I think it should be ours also—'Live Free Or Die.'"

Palin continued to embrace her role as the underdog, claiming that her running mate was also counted out before the New Hampshire primary 9 months ago.

"You know, just last January, the critics had counted John McCain out and they said there is no way that he would win the primary up here," Palin said. "He was down in the polls, but the people of New Hampshire went to the voting booth and they turned the underdog into the victor."

Though McCain did trail Mitt Romney in New Hampshire throughout the fall of 2007, McCain consistently led the Republican field after Dec. 27 and was ahead in 16 of the last 20 state polls taken before Primary Day on Jan. 8.

[dbstevens]

Palin annoys me more and more every day. Enough with the "doggone it" and "you betcha" stupidity. And enough about moose hunting. Our country isn''t a PTA meeting and the average American doesn''t wish to adorn his walls with the hide of some poor animal that someobody shot for the fun of it.

[debrap4]

If Sarah misuses her power as a governor, what would you expect as VP? Yes, she was a very, very bad choice.

[lucilioness]

THE ONLY THING I WILL MISS WHEN SARAH TAKES HER SORRY A__ BACK TO ALASKA, IS THE SNL SKITS WITH TINA FEY. I GUESS McNOBRAIN CAN TAKE HIS MAVERICKY A__ BACK TO THE SENATE. IN THE MEAN TIME, BARACK AND JOE WILL BE RUNNING THE WHITE HOUSE. MICHELLE AND JILL CAN DO WHATEVER THE F__K THEY FEEL LIKE DOING. YIPEEEEEEEEE!

[BigCatOne]

McCain made a truly horrible pick for Vice President. What was he thinking? He''s 72 years old and has had repeated bouts with cancer! Can any of us really imagine a President Palin? The thought is frightening-she is far more ignorant and inexperienced than our current president was when he took office, and we have seen what a disaster he created: The occupation of Iraq, the hunt for Bin Laden, Katrina, Wall Street and the banking deregulation fiasco have combined to create a perfect storm of misery for the US.

"That%u2019s why I say I, like every American I%u2019m speaking with, we%u2019re ill about this position that we have been put in where it is the taxpayers looking to bail out. But ultimately what the bailout does is help those who are concerned about the healthcare reform that is needed to help shore up our economy. Helping the%u2014it%u2019s got to be all about job creation too, shoring up our economy and putting it back on the right track. So health care reform and reducing taxes and reining in spending has got to accompany tax reductions and tax relief for Americans and trade%u2014we%u2019ve got to see trade as opportunity, not as competitive, scary thing, but one in five jobs being created in the trade sector today%u2014we%u2019ve got to look at that as more opportunity."

This an exact quote of Palin''s response to the question regarding whether or not the Wall Street bailout was a good idea.

[dzemog1]

The sad truth is that, for all the "just like me" women who follow Palin like little lost puppies, most of us know bad when we see it. She''s not qualified; she''s not even close. McCain would probably still be in a fight because of the economy, but it''s a fight he might''ve won if he''d chosen someone credible. With the economy and foreign policy both front and center for the foreseeable future, she''s useless. God forbid something happens to McCain, but as Americans, it would be irresponsible of us to not think about the implications of that with Palin as next in line. I love my country too much to risk putting it into the hands of someone so utterly clueless.

[tonyatq]

The problem is not McCain but it is Palin she is his down fall. She is self-center and a big LIAR even when confronted with the truth.

[rebelrepubli]

The Post-Palin Bounce is coming. McCain is going to prove to be a man who can and will admit that he made a mistake and take action to correct it. This of course stands in stark contrast to George W. Bush''s arrogance. I hope my man Barack is prepared!

[mollybee5]

%u201CI know that we can count on the good people of New Hampshire because you%u2019re a lot like the people of Alaska,%u201D Palin said

Does NH want to break away from the US too?

[PulSamsara]

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Why would America REWARD complete Republican failure ?

We wont.

[mattcat25]

Sarah Palin is responsible for a Tax on Oil leaving the State of Alaaaaaskah that she turned over in cash incentives to every Alaskan Citizen (about $2,000) that WE IN THE LOWER FORTY HAD TO PAY FOR IN HIGHER GASOLINE PRICES!

Palin bought her election and is corrupt with Big Oil as the Bush Administration has been.