But if it was intended to entice a bloc of white women voters into the Republican fold, it might be all systems go.
The leaders of six women`s groups stood together overnight to announce that they were backing Barack Obama in the US presidential election, saying Mrs Palin`s inclusion on the Republican ticket was not enough to win their approval.
One group, the National Organisation for Women, said it had not endorsed a White House candidate in nearly 25 years but was speaking out this time to highlight Senator McCain`s record on so-called women`s issues.
The NOW had supported Hillary Clinton in the Democratic primaries, however, so a Democratic endorsement at this election was likely this time around anyway.
But their support of Senator Obama could be seen as a message to disgruntled Clinton backers to get behind the man who beat her in the the primaries then overlooked for as a running mate.
"We join with her (Clinton) in saying `no`. No way, no how, no McCain," said NOW president Kim Gandy, echoing a line from Senator Clinton`s speech at the Democratic national convention last month.
Eleanor Smeal, president of the Feminist Majority Foundation, said Mrs Palin`s inclusion on the ticket made little difference.
"We don`t think it`s much to break a glass ceiling for one woman and leave millions of women behind," she said.
According to a new poll, some of the women they represent disagree. The Associated Press-GfK survey of likely voters found white women backed Senator McCain over Senator Obama by 53 per cent to 40 per cent.
Ms Gandy and Ms Smeal said that support would evaporate once voters understood Mrs Palin`s stance on issues such as abortion, which the Alaskan Governor opposes except when the mother`s life is at stake.
But the AP-GfK poll found two-thirds of working class white women said Mrs Palin shared their values and 71 per cent said so of Senator McCain.
Slightly more than half (52 per cent) said the same of Senator Obama while 46 per cent identified with Democratic vice-presidential candidate Joe Biden`s positions.
However a poll reported after her selection two weeks ago found
What is wrong with the McCain/Palin supporters? Look what the Republican Party has done to your country under Bush/Cheney, do you really think this will improve with McCain/Palin? All you will get is Bush/Cheney again, just this time called McCain/Palin!! Hasn't your country and the world suffered enough?!!
Posted by: chris of freshwater 3:05pm today
Sarah Palin President of the United States of America?!BWAAAAAH HA HA HA HA ha... ha um (laughter becomes hollow and uncomfortable)... I keep waiting to wake up from this nightmare. Let's just hope Obama gets in and this will just be a distant memory...
Posted by: Celeste of melbourne 2:49pm today
I will never understand why feminist groups think that you have to support abortion to be a proud modern female. I am a proud modern woman who is firmly against abortion.
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