Like most people, I enjoy being right.

Last week I said the media firestorm surrounding Sarah Palin, her daughter and her qualifications would backfire. How did I know this? Two reasons. First, because immediately after McCain had selected the woman the media had already devoted more than enough time to speculating that she would need to be replaced. Second, because I had already read more than my fair share about the woman over the last few months and I knew what was coming Wednesday night when she accepted the nomination.

So what can you expect now? Well it has already begun so don’t call me a prophet, but expect for the next week or so at least to see glowing article after glowing article looking into the womans life; discussing the enthusiasm that is building in the Republican party around her; questioning Joe Biden’s place in the race; declaring that a new era is upon the Republican party. The media, don’t you just love how they go from one extreme to another?

Plain in short was a game changer, I said it at the beginning, I stand by it now. Yes we will learn more, not all of it great. She has energized the race though, she is new and exciting. The media wants us all to either fall in love or fall apart. They want figures to rise like Icarus, be torn asunder after touching the flame and then be reborn so they have “elder statemen” and “someone whose been there before” to talk to when they do it again. They write narratives and not news and its kind of sad that they all don’t have a chance to write the great American novel they aspired to all those years ago in college.

Anyway, if McCain can court this for a couple of weeks you can also expect reports of “high level” officials in the Democratic party questioning Obama’s strategy, team and abilities to appear. Obama’s team made three miscalculations. First, they sent him to Europe. They did so because in the circles they travel everyone cares about Europeans and is weary of our image in the world. Reality is more complex. The rest of American wants to be beloved by the world, yes, but because of who we are and not who we cater to.

Second was the Invesco Field speech. Once again they have equated large crowds to popular support. 80,000 people is impressive but it doesn’t equate to real support. There are bands that pack stadiums and yes most Americans can probably hum a few bars from their one hit song. Do they own the album though? Half of America’s population could vote. Most of them will simply vote down party line or vote on what they learned in the last few weeks before the election. A large chunk though will vote on their perception of a candidate and it is hard to deny your candidate is arrogant, elitist or smug when the image of him being surrounded by adoring fans, celebrities and singers turning his words into a hip-hop anthem is the last image you gave them.

Third he selected Joe Biden. By doing so he acknowledged fears that he was not ready to lead our nations defense or chose a candidate who was as outside of Washington as he claims to be. McCain rightly gambled on a personality similar to his own who was more tenacious when it comes to espousing social values. They are values he holds but is quiet about. He picked someone that amplifies his qualities as an ousider, not someone who filled in for him.

The race is by no means over. The polls will even out and the media won’t stop fawning over Obama. The playing field is now level though and things are about to get interesting!