VP picks as "gap-fillers"

People suggested last week, when Joe Biden was announced as Barack Obama's running mate, that his selection was an attempt by the Obama campaign to "fill a gap." In other words, Obama was worried enough about his foreign policy credibility that he put Biden on the ticket. Other folks argued that Biden and Obama fit together like puzzle pieces, with each bringing great strengths to the ticket. They suggested that the two are far more alike than they are different, and that their styles and approaches to problems complement each other. The Democratic National Convention was meant to reinforce that impression, and it did.

Now we are going to hear the same things about Sarah Palin as John McCain's pick. First and foremost, we will hear that she fills a gap because she's young and a woman. It's suggested that her age will assuage some voters' concerns about McCain being, well, old. And many have argued that her gender will pull disaffected Hillary supporters into the McCain column. I think it's harder, though, for McCain and Palin to cast themselves as complementary candidates or a unified team. Their differences are so glaring that every image, every appearance, every photo will remind voters that McCain is old.

And as for her being a woman, I think McCain and many Republicans are overestimating the crossover appeal for former Hillary supporters, as they are undoubtedly the types of feminists who will also be concerned about Palin's anti-choice stance. All women are not interchangeable. Expecting women to follow like lemmings, just because Sarah Palin shares their gender, is naive (and a bit offensive to me, honestly--in much the same way that I was irked by people suggesting that I had to support Hillary over Obama because I am a woman).

I also think that Palin being a woman, and a young one at that, may actually turn off some traditional (predominantly older male) conservative voters. Whether that will keep them from voting for the ticket is another matter entirely, but it should be a concern for McCain's team at this point. If the McCain camp is able to "sell" Palin as a "better sort of tough woman" than Hillary, who inspires loathing in middle-aged males, they might be able to keep those voters on board. Otherwise, just as people have whispered about an undercurrent of racism affecting Obama, we may see an undercurrent of sexism affecting McCain-Palin. They may rave about her being pretty, or being a hunter, or whatever (cue Karl Rove and Rush Limbaugh), but I don't think you can erase the emotions that cause so many men to hate Hillary or Nancy Pelosi or other strong political women.