Sarah Palin

Bold pick by John McCain. Tactically, it's probably the smartest thing he could have done and it demonstrates a refreshing willingness to break away from the stodgy GOP conventional wisdom.

When I first heard about it, I thought it was a home run choice, neutral at worst, but likely very positive.

The more I think about it, though, I'm wondering about the possibilities for blowback. Specifically, what about all of the other Republican women out there who are surely more experienced than she is? What about the fact that Hillary Clinton fought for decades to get to where she is- and Palin's selection was clearly more a result of the big wheels of power turning and making a choice to cater to identity politics?

Choosing a woman was undoubtedly brilliant. Choosing a young, fresh unknown was possibly wise- but also exposes the choice to charges of gimmickry, pandering, and irresponsibility- particularly considering the legitimate concerns around McCain's age and health.

I think a lot is going to depend on how Sarah Palin gets defined over the next few days and weeks- and that will in large part depend on which side gets their message out most effectively.

Either way, it is now more clear than ever that women will be the key to this election.