Vice-President Palin

Well, that was a genuine surprise.

On one hand, it would be a great choice. Palin is female, and likely to appeal to moderate Democrats who favoured Clinton for the Democratic nomination. She is also a Washington outsider; the only candidate on either of the main tickets who is not a Senator.

Yet... she is perhaps the only politician in the US who can make Obama look highly qualified. No-one in the US has really heard of her outside of Alaska. And she will be the one who is a heartbeat away from the presidency, serving under the oldest President in history who has already had serious health problems. Palin could become President if the McCain-Palin ticket wins in November - and are the American people really going to be willing to take the risk with an inexperienced governor of a small, remote state who could end up as President?

Whatever happens, this much is clear - McCain has take a massive gamble with his choice of Vice-Presidential candidate. It is a far bolder choice than Obama's, and I kind of admire that willingness to take a risk. Whether or not this choice will blow up in McCain's face, though, remains to be seen...