How could McCain seriously pick a candidate so unqualified as Palin?

Answer 1

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

Common wisdom requires Moderate presidential candidates to choose conservative running mates and visa versa. John McCain picked Sarah Palin because she has conservative core values like small government and low taxes (unlike Bush whose tendencies were lefty when under pressure) and a reputation as someone that will not put party before country, a maverick if you will. John McCain made an excellent choice. Even though not in any office she has been driving popular opinion, influencing nation elections and helping to create an environment that will be unfavorable to socialist Democrats as well as moderate Republicans. Sarah Palin and the Tea Party Movement creates a synergy that will leave an indelible mark on American politics and the world for that matter, as the success of these ideals propels America again, as they have under Reagan. Many of the same criticisms of Palin were once said of Reagan all to be proven pathetically wrong. Ronald Reagan was said to be "too extreme" and "unqualified", among other things he was also said to be outdated a relic of the 50's. Ronald Reagan would have loved Sarah Palin.