Governor Palin returned to her home state, Alaska, after the convention. In watching interviews with the locals, it was pretty hard to miss that they all call her "Sarah." (She does enjoy a 68 to 80% approval rating.)

The ability for the public to relate to a candidate and imagine going out for a beer with in elections is a huge advantage they say. Since I don't drink, I will translate that familiarity to having coffee together.

The everyman appeal isn't new. Remember the Kennedy/Nixon debates where John F. Kennedy crossed his legs to reveal a hole in the sole of his shoe? That was no doubt staged to make him appear more real.

I never really envisioned sharing a cup of joe with any candidate, although maybe President Bush came the closest. Maybe it was his profession of his Christian faith that made me feel a little less intimidated.

But my standoffishness came to an end with Sarah Palin. She just seems like someone I could invite over for a cup of coffee. At my house, that means espresso, hence to meet Silvia, our espresso maker.

I like the fact that some days she might make macaroni and cheese for dinner. What mom can't identify with that?

It is not her working mother status that evokes the desire to talk to her one on one. In fact, my personal choice on that issue was the opposite. (I quit work when I had my son and stayed home to homeschool.) But I do know of homeschool moms who seem to manage a very large family, run a family business, and have very well behaved children. Sarah seems to possess that same gumption.

The latest Palin flap was over her wardrobe. The RNC spent $150,000 on new clothing for her because, well, she needed it. The clothing is actually on loan to her and she returns the outfits to the RNC after a few wearings. Sean Hannity interviewed her last week--one of the subjects covered was her wardrobe. She said she and Todd live very simply in Alaska. Her favorite clothing store in there? A consignment shop: "Out of the Closet."  I can relate!

Which candidate would you most want to share a cup of coffee with and chat? For me the order is: Sarah Palin, John McCain, Joe Biden (you have to say he is entertaining), and least of all, Barack Obama. How about you?

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It's the old typo problem again. Barack 'Osama" on Rensselaer County ballots! Hundreds of the absentee ballots were mailed out in that county.

"Is it a Freudian slip, intentional act or a mistake? Voters are sure to have opinions, and one pol pointed out that the letters 's' and 'b' are not exactly keyboard neighbors.

The election officials from both parties said it was a typo. 

Go figure. 

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Between the voter fraud issue and yesterday's stock market, sometimes a body needs a little comic relief!

Here it is: How well do you know your Presidential Candidate? Match-o-Matic II

It's a quiz from ABC News. The graphics are cute, but there is something to think about too. If you click on the above link, you see a cartoon of the White House and Obama and McCain on a teeter totter.

The object of the quiz is to pick between 2 statements, made by the candidates on various issues, that you most agree with. It then matches the quote with the candidate. At the end, it shows which candidate's philosophy you agree with most. (No big surprise here on my quiz, McCain bounced Obama off the teeter totter. I missed 1 out of 13.)

Have fun!

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The question of the day is, will Sen. John McCain go to the debate tonight? (UPDATE: Yes)

If he does not go, here are 2 possibilities:

1. Send Governor Palin. She seems to have done well impressing the various leaders at the UN meetings:

The presidents of Iraq and Georgia gushed over Palin as they met with her yesterday. And Afghanistan's President Hamid Karzai told an audience Tuesday night after meeting Palin earlier that day that she asked all the right questions.

Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari expressed great joy in meeting her during the short photo session at the start of their meeting that was viewed by reporters and cameras.

"You are even more gorgeous than you are on the [inaudible]," Zardari said.

"You are so nice. Thank you," Palin said.

"Now I know why the whole of America is crazy about you," Zardari said, as his handler told them to shake hands for the cameras.

2. Last night Ann Coulter quipped, Barack Obama could debate Joe Biden!  ;-)

I will be watching tonight to see what develops. Even if John McCain shows up, it will be disappointing to me. For some reason, I thought teleprompters were not allowed at the debates, I now know differently. (No wonder only the Town Hall meeting invitations were declined.) 

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The rumor mill is churning out that Sen. Joe Biden will step aside for medical reasons* and that Sen. Hillary Clinton step in as VP. Never mind that her husband just said yesterday that Hillary never wanted to be Vice President.

Obviously, Sen. Obama wasn't thrilled with the idea either, or he would have picked her. (The thought of a Hillary VP, who only has presidential aspirations, is daunting.) Besides, wouldn't that be the ultimate flip-flop? That Obama couldn't even make up his mind on who to pick for VP?  No, I think Obama is just stuck with Biden and his bloopers. (They have added a unique bit of entertainment to this election.)

Plus, Governor Sarah Palin stole Sen. Clinton's thunder by being the first Republican** woman nominated for VP.

But in politics, you never know what will happen next. Time will tell. 

*Not so serious that they keep him out of the senate though. 

**Correction: I did not mean to forget Geraldine Ferraro. She however did not generate the same excitement and anticipation that Palin has as a possible presidential candidate in the next cycle. 

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What's in a name? Plenty.

In case you missed this, the Friday edition of the Detroit News printed this headline, "Clinton, Osama meet to discuss unity"

The paper claims it was a mistake, but the error appeared on "about 45,000 newspapers distributed north and west of downtown Detroit." 

Appropriate apologizes made and accepted. I wonder if the first copy has made it to eBay yet? 

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