Sen. John McCain doesn’t believe polls showing that his running mate has slipped in popularity nationally and told Gov. Sarah Palin to “have fun” at the first vice presidential debate tonight.
Acknowledging that he felt good about her, McCain told The Denver Post editorial board today that he had “a little trace of nervousness” about Palin’s performance at Washington University tonight.
“There will be tens of millions of people watching tonight,” he said at a stop before a town hall meeting in downtown Denver. “I know she realizes that.”
McCain said Palin’s shine has not diminished since her debut at the Republican National Convention, despite new polls that show her popularity slipping, including a Pew Research Center survey that found Americans’ confidence in her ability to lead falling from 52 percent in early September to 37 percent now.
“We have polls that show people have great support and enthusiasm for her, so I respectfully disagree,” McCain said.
Addressing gaffes Palin has made in recent days in television interviews, McCain said that all political candidates on the trail make mistakes.
“I have made mistakes in my responses,” he said. “This is just part of a constant dialogue that you have with the American people and the media. I think she did just fine in her interviews … I’m sure if she had some of them to revise, I’m sure she would.”
He called out the news media’s double standard in scrutinizing Palin more than Democratic vice presidential running mate Joe Biden.
“I’m sure Sen. Biden wouldn’t say again that FDR addressed the American people on television,” when the stock market crashed in 1929, he said.
The troubles with that statement? Herbert Hoover was president at the time and televisions were still in the experimental phase.
“What would have been the reaction if Sarah Palin had said that?” McCain asked.
