There is a great quote from Bob Herbert in yesterday’s New York Times regarding the cult of personality that has grown around Sarah Palin:

"For those who haven't noticed, we're electing a president and vice-president, not selecting a winner on 'American Idol'."

Ever since she burst into the world’s consciousness a fortnight ago, Sarah Palin has done exactly what she was supposed to do - keep the focus on the personalities in the race, and away from the issues.

The media love her, even the Eastern Media Elite. Entire forests have been consumed whole to supply the newspapers full of the latest details about her family, her dress sense, her love of guns, etc. And as long as the media continues to concentrate its focus on her, it means that there is less time to talk about the issues facing the USA. This is precisely what the Republicans want to do, because when it comes to policies, the GOP’s cupboard is bare. Up until Palin made her debut, Barack Obama was all over the media and making the poll numbers. He was doing this without having to denigrate his opponent. (Of course, there is a cult of personality around Obama too, but it has almost vanished in the last fortnight.)

During the week, Obama made use of the expression “lipstick on a pig”. At the time, he was talking about the policies of the Republican ticket, and how little they differ from the failed policies of George W Bush. The Reps immediately picked up the “lipstick” reference and spun it as an insult to Palin, thus bring the focus back from issues to personalities - and in particular, that of Sarah Palin - and thus back onto firmer ground for their campaign.

With just under seven weeks to go until polling day, Barack Obama and Joe Biden have a big fight on their hands. Right now, the Republicans are winning the media war hands down, and this all comes down to Sarah Palin. The airtime and column inches she is getting are keeping the Dems off the airwaves and out of the papers, and brings to mind one of Oscar Wilde’s famous sayings:

“The only thing worse that being talked about is not being talked about.”

Tags: US Election