Palin, behind the scenes

Posted: Wednesday, September 03, 2008 8:57 PM by Domenico Montanaro
Filed Under: Kelly O'Donnell, Sarah Palin

From NBC's Kelly O'Donnell
Palin worked until about midnight last night practicing her speech and resumed again this morning at 5 a.m., according to McCain advisors who have been with the Alaska governor day and night.

The chief speechwriter on this address is Matthew Scully, who is one of McCain's speechwriters and also wrote President Bush.

Palin has been involved in the drafting of her remarks and describe the process as a "total collaboration," aides said, adding Palin is professional and "not rattled" by the attention and scrutiny of this night.

The governor was in "prompter practice" from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. today, aides said. Last night at about 10:30 p.m., aides added, they did a full run-through at a practice podium in an effort to create the feeling of performing at the hour she will appear tonight.

McCain has called to check in a number of times, they said.

Palin has been working two Blackberries and is "aware of everything" being written and said about her new candidacy, aides said. She has not, however, had time to watch much television and cable coverage.

Palin has been surrounded by her family, advisers said. The governor has been involved in preparing her husband and children for tonight as well, aides said, by assisting with things like choosing outfits for the kids and helping them get prepared for their own moment on the convention stage.

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Comments

So Palin delivered a speech written by a Bush speech writer. Same old same old

Helen in Kansas (Sent Thursday, September 04, 2008 12:29 AM)

I thought Sarah Palin's delivery was every bit as good as the other good speaches we have heard so far. I was hoping to hear something of substance, but the speach was really a repeat of what has already been said before, so that was very disappointing. I have heard that Bush's aides are tutoring her on foreign policy and other political topics, so maybe it was just too soon to expect any depth yet. It would be so great to get a woman in the White House in the next election. I hope the next couple of weeks give some signs of hope for that.

Jane Smith, San Francisco CA (Sent Thursday, September 04, 2008 12:52 AM)

Well she delivered the speech even with some stutters here and there. However, I was listening to learn more about her, what inpires her and how she will co-govern. It was upsetting to see her present herself in such an angry manner, the quips were not necessary. Senator Palin was not inspirational and still seems distant from voters like me that are not from Alaska and a die hard Republican. Indeed, this was disappointing.

Pauline, Texas (Sent Thursday, September 04, 2008 1:10 AM)

I wonder who is nursing her baby. The American Pediatric Association states that breatmilk is best for the first year. It actually provides a documented increase in IQ, according to the National Institutes of Health. It seems like a mother of a child with DS which indicates an IQ of 70 or lower, 100 being average, would want her child to have this benefit. When does she find the time to nurse or pump a baby who must be fed at least every four hours?

Family values.

Maybe she is subbing it out.

mamothree (Sent Thursday, September 04, 2008 1:26 AM)

I have to say the speech was IMPRESSIVE. As a woman I was proud to see another woman hold her own with such toughest and humor and seriousness as Sarah Palin did last night ESPECIALLY with the meanest of the "outing" of her daughter's pregancy and the truly slimy story of the parentage of her young son. Govenor... "You go girl!"

It is funny to me that the election of change is turning into the same old on both sides of the aisle. The democrats are going to take care of us from cradle to grave - no worries AND the Republicans are going to make government oh so much smaller and get it out of our way so we can take care of ourselves. Nothing new here. Did the governor's speech move me to vote for John McCain. Absolutely NOT! I still disagreed with the governor on pretty much every social issue. And as the election progresses it will become clear that the Republicans have overvalued her "reformer" reputation and the Democrats have been too dismissive of it. The only NEW thing to come out of the speech is that the governor is a FORCE to be reckoned with and regardless of the outcome of the election there are two new political stars - Barack Obama & Sarah Palin. And how sweet it is, a person of color and a woman. If I may be so..."For the first time, I am truly proud of my country" :-)

Mona Sims, Denver Co. (Sent Thursday, September 04, 2008 2:05 AM)

Palin's total presentation, verbal and physical, was such a refreshing change from what we have been exposed to for eighteen months. Her total style is so pleasant, her voice, her presence, her focus. She will be a great voice for all, a great VP and a great first woman president. All Americans won tonight.

Paul Flaming (Sent Thursday, September 04, 2008 3:08 AM)

While she was doing this 'prompter practice'the words coming across the machine should have been her answers as to why Alaska has been No.1 or No.2 in sexually transmitted diseases (STD's)for the last 8 years running? This from a Governor that believes in abstinence only. Why not sex ed in the classroom?

NoDNoJ, Cleveland, Ohio (Sent Thursday, September 04, 2008 3:49 AM)

So, McCain had George Bush's 2004 speech writer write this speech for Palin.

George Bush is all over McCain's campaign.

THIS REALLY IS GOING TO BE BUSH-III

PS... It took her over 5 hours to memorize a speech written for a "generic" VP pick written by Bush's speech writer ...

Max, Lexington, Kentucky (Sent Thursday, September 04, 2008 7:57 AM)

Obama should say:
"Having never personally met or spoken with Sarah Palin, I am concerned with how quickly she s willing to lay out such condescending and personal attacks on me and my wife. Let's please focus on our policies and stop the typical character attacks that have become the mainstay of politics."

I also get incessed with idea the "moral" values the far religeous right contend they have when they so easily sign on to swift boat attacks, Rove and Rove inspired lies and applaud these very tactics.

SH pa (Sent Thursday, September 04, 2008 8:44 AM)

She read a bunch of sarcastic one-liners worthy of a late night comic, but not a necessity to be the future leader of the free world. She allowed herself to be condescending to two people (the Obamas) who, from all appearances, have lived up to the American dream of a fabulous education. Since when is it bad to attend an Ivy League school rather than a state college. I'm also incredibly outraged that she stands up there telling Americans what's wrong in their lives and in their families when, clearly, she didn't even know what was going on in her own. She's a self-righteous ... let me stop there. I'm getting pretty hot!

SUZY, Philadelphia, PA (Sent Thursday, September 04, 2008 9:20 AM)

Kudos to Sara. Nice to see a woman up there. Am I going to run to the republican side? Nope. Having a woman on the ticket is not going to change most peoples vote. Maybe some, but they were undecided anyway. I also heard the same ol same ol from the podium. I want change, as do many Americans. God Bless America!!!
Obama/Biden 08'

cindy, Las Vegas, Nv (Sent Thursday, September 04, 2008 9:25 AM)

Governor Palin got a thirty year old project implemented within the first year in office. The Alaskan natural gas pipeline project had been sitting for all of that time because no one had the will to move it forward before she took office.

Natural gas is one of the answers to clean, non-imported energy; even Senator Obama called for it in his nomination speech. However, no one told the Flat Earth Society. Clean Ocean Action, a lobbying group in my state, is opposing a storage facility, on the grounds that natural gas hurts the environment. In Massachusetts, a wind farm was proposed off the coast of Cape Cod; THEIR local flat earth society successfully stopped it.

I have to wonder where these people think energy will come from-the energy fairy?

Even Senator Obama speaks out of both sides of his mouth on this issue; you cannot simultaneously be AGAINST drilling and FOR natural gas; Natural gas has to be DRILLED FOR, Senator Obama. It doesn't just come out of the stove.

Given that Obama avoided votes on controversial issues while in the U.S. Senate, and voted present on most issues while in the Illinois state senate, it is clear that he will dither while the energy crisis grows worse if, heaven forfend, he gets elected. The only promise he will keep will be to raise taxes. Those who believe that his tax increases will not affect them are the same people who believe in the energy fairy. THINK, people.

GOT BRAINS? Monmouth County (Sent Thursday, September 04, 2008 9:25 AM)

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