The vice president needs to be ready to take over at a moment's notice if something happens to the president. McCain's age makes that even more of an issue than it might be otherwise, and he knows that's on the voters' minds. Already I see both offices have put out press releases on the experience issue.

Without a doubt this will pull in some of the PUMAs. I daresay that was one of the primary objectives in choosing Palin. Will it turn the election? Frankly I don't think so. It will turn some of the most centrist Hillary supporters and some of the most bitter ones, but I don't think there will turn out to be enough there to make it work.