On Playing Palin
Governor Granholm discusses her role as Biden's debate foil.
Tina Fey may be the most popular woman playing Sarah Palin these days. But she's not the most influential. That honor goes to Michigan Governor Jennifer Granholm, who has been tapped by Democratic vice-presidential nominee Joe Biden to stand in for Palin as he prepares for Thursday night's debate. Granholm is the first female to win her state's highest office; she was first elected in 2002, after serving four years as the state's first female attorney general.
Biden, Granholm and a handful of top campaign aides have spent the first half of this week at the WilmingtonSheraton Suites getting ready to rumble. One adviser in the room, who did not want to be named discussing campaign strategy, describes the prep sessions as more conversational than a formal mock debate might be. The group is focused on countering Palin's "prepared one-liner and quick jab" style. The campaign chose Granholm, this source says, "because she's a stellar debater who crushed Amway heir Dick Devos in her own debates in 2006 and herself had run in 2002 as an outsider and reformer."
Several days into her stint as Palin surrogate, Granholm spoke with NEWSWEEK's Sarah Kliff about the Alaska governor, what she and the politician she's playing have in common—and why debating a woman is different from debating a man. Excerpts:
NEWSWEEK: What was your reaction to being asked to help prep Senator Biden?
Granholm: As you can imagine, it is such a great honor to be asked to participate in such a meaningful way in this all-important presidential election. I think the world of Joe Biden—and even more so after this experience … I'd met him before, certainly, but we had never worked together as intensely as we have over the past few days.
How have you been preparing him?
I'm not going to comment on the prep. It's still predebate, so I'm going to avoid those questions.
In general, do you think there
'
s a difference between debating a male and a female opponent?
I do think, generally, it is more difficult for a man to debate a woman. I think that citizens have certain expectations still ingrained in them about how men and women should behave and comport themselves. And for both sides, there are pitfalls.
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Member Comments
Posted By: wendydk @ 10/11/2008 12:24:35 PM
Comment: John McCain is a good man, who got carried away by ambition, bad people and bad decisions. I think his conscience is bothering him now, and makes him more appealing, and more the man I know him to be.
Sarah Palin may be smart, but she's not who you think she is. Sarah Palin is a traitor to America and to her party.
Palins un-American activities
http://www.salon.com/opinion/feature/2008/10/07/palins_unamerican/index.html
Alaskan Independence Party chairwoman Lynette Clark talks about why she does not identify herself as an American, and about her kindred spirit Sarah Palin.
http://www.salon.com/news/feature/2008/09/10/alaska_secession/index.html
The pastor who clashed with Palin
http://www.salon.com/news/feature/2008/09/15/bess/index.html
Troopergate Report Concludes Palin Abused Power. Full 263 Page report here???
http://download2.legis.state.ak.us/DOWNLOAD.pdf
Palins Attack On Obamas Patriotism Legitimizes Questions About her Association With Group Founded By America-Hating Secessionist
http://tpmelectioncentral.talkingpointsmemo.com/2008/10/palins_attack_on_obamas_patrio.php
Palin And The Alaska Independence Party
http://marcambinder.theatlantic.com/archives/2008/09/the_alaska_independence_party.php
Posted By: wendydk @ 10/11/2008 12:24:21 PM
Comment: John McCain is a good man, who got carried away by ambition, bad people and bad decisions. I think his conscience is bothering him now, and makes him more appealing, and more the man I know him to be.
Sarah Palin may be smart, but she's not who you think she is. Sarah Palin is a traitor to America and to her party.
Palins un-American activities
http://www.salon.com/opinion/feature/2008/10/07/palins_unamerican/index.html
Alaskan Independence Party chairwoman Lynette Clark talks about why she does not identify herself as an American, and about her kindred spirit Sarah Palin.
http://www.salon.com/news/feature/2008/09/10/alaska_secession/index.html
The pastor who clashed with Palin
http://www.salon.com/news/feature/2008/09/15/bess/index.html
Troopergate Report Concludes Palin Abused Power. Full 263 Page report here???
http://download2.legis.state.ak.us/DOWNLOAD.pdf
Palins Attack On Obamas Patriotism Legitimizes Questions About her Association With Group Founded By America-Hating Secessionist
http://tpmelectioncentral.talkingpointsmemo.com/2008/10/palins_attack_on_obamas_patrio.php
Palin And The Alaska Independence Party
http://marcambinder.theatlantic.com/archives/2008/09/the_alaska_independence_party.php
Posted By: Nowforthetruth @ 10/11/2008 2:45:43 AM
Comment: Comment: Regarding Palin, the item on these two links was originally displayed proudly on Obama's website:
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/2078771/posts
Or see, with name tags:
http://www.foxnews.com/video-search/m/20903021/troopergate.htm?pageid=23043&seek=105.499
not a favorite source, but you can't have everything.