Some polls show that Palin has become an even heavier weight in John McCain’s saddle than his association with George W. Bush.
Will doesn’t name any such polls, of course, nor does he explain what it is about the polls that supposedly show this. Before naming Palin as his running mate, McCain was down by about 10 points. If he ends up losing by significantly more than that, then sure, it would be reasonable to suggest that Palin may have been a limiting factor (though even then it wouldn’t be a slam dunk). But if the net effect of the Palin nomination is for McCain to lose the election but beat the spread, all this Beltway mumbling about Palin hurting McCain is little more than wishful thinking.
Will doesn't name any polls because if you've been paying attention, he shouldn't have to.
What about this one?
A CNN/Opinion Research Corporation survey released Sunday indicates McCain's running mate is growing less popular among voters and may be costing him a few crucial percentage points in the race for the White House.
Or this one?
Sarah Palin has become a drag on the Republican presidential ticket, the first time in recent political history that a running mate has made such a difference.
Among many independents and moderate Republicans, she's raised serious questions about John McCain's judgment, become too much of a national punch line and reinforced concerns about McCain's age.
There are no polls I'm aware of that show Palin is helping McSame. Her negatives are high and people don't think she's ready for the job. This isn't opinion, it's a fact.
To argue that she's helping McCain is to deny reality.
As far as the claim that "McCain was down by about 10" before naming Palin, let's cue the tape. (McCain on the right, Obama on the left).
So a couple weeks before he named Palin, two of the polls showed that McCain was actually ahead. Generally, it seems like Obama had small lead until McCain named Palin, but the idea that he was up 10 is not supported by the facts.
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