Surprise?  First Two National Polls Find Palin Gains LESS Support from Women  —  NEW YORK The first national polls on John McCain's pick of Sarah Palin yesterday came out today from Rasmussen and Gallup — and contrary to what the GOP probably hoped, she scored less well with women than men.

Palin electrifies conservative base  —  ST. PAUL - The selection of Sarah Palin as John McCain's running mate has electrified conservative activists, providing a boost of energy to the GOP nominee-in-waiting from a key constituency that had been previously had been lukewarm - at best - about him.

Sarah Palin (R-Diversity)  —  Thanks a lot, John McCain.  With his selection of an unknown, two-year female governor as his running mate, he has just ensured that the diversity racket will be an essential component of presidential politics forever more.  Had the 44-year-old Sarah Palin …

Zogby Poll: Equilibrium in the POTUS Race!  —  Brash McCain pick of AK Gov. Palin neutralizes historic Obama speech, stunts the Dems' convention bounce  —  UTICA, New York - Republican John McCain's surprise announcement Friday of Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin as his running mate …

Storm scrambles GOP convention  —  ST. PAUL, Minn. — President Bush is unlikely to make it to the Republican National Convention, and Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) may deliver his acceptance speech via satellite because of the historically huge hurricane threatening New Orleans, top officials said.

THE VET  —  The Post has a new article out, the gist of which is that far from being a last minute choice who possibly wasn't extensively vetted, Gov. Palin was a top contender in the veep search for some time and was extensively vetted.  “Nobody was vetted less or more than anyone in the final stages …

Advisers Say Conservative Ire Pushed McCain Away From Picking Lieberman  —  WASHINGTON — In the end, the choice of his running mate said more about Senator John McCain and his image of himself than it did about Sarah Palin, the little-known governor of Alaska whose selection has shaken up the presidential race.

Obama Outwits the Bloviators  —  STOP the presses!  This election isn't about the Clintons after all.  It isn't about the Acropolis columns erected at Invesco Field.  It isn't about who is Paris Hilton and who is Hanoi Hilton.  (Though it may yet be about who is Sarah Palin.)