I disagree with the notion that McCain selecting Palin was a matter of “identity politics.” Sure Palin brings a little extra female interest with her selection, but I’m not sure that was the primary benefit that drove McCain to select her.

We’re living in a new era of political campaigning, begun in 2000 and perfected in 2004. In previous years, the general election revolved around the independent voter, but in 2000 and 2004 Rove/Bush turned the beast on it’s head. For them, it was all about increasing turnout of base voters, effectively decreasing the number of independents needed to win.

This is where Palin comes in. The Republican base LOVES her, much the same way the Dems LOVE Obama. The base simply wasn’t going to turn out for McCain; he had a dangerous energy deficit. But Palin has changed all that. This was about ideology and about turnout and about energy, and only a marginally about women.