The VP debate last night got me thinking about Palin’s ability to reach out to the independent, middle of the road voters in America. While she obviously brings in the socially conservative base, I was trying to figure out how her name on the ticket helps McCain get those swing states.

Thankfully my dad was able to help me out with this. He’s your typical white, middle-aged male who is an independent but registers democrat to vote in the primary (got to love Pennsylvania). He voted Obama in the primary, but has always been a McCain fan. Before the VP announcement, he was still undecided whom to vote for in November. In last night’s debate, he was looking for Palin to prove to the undecided, socially liberal, fiscally conservative, semi-libertarians like him why she deserves to be on the ticket and not Lieberman or Romney. After what he saw last night, he’s set with Obama-Biden. I’ll leave you with some of his comments:

Here is how she lost me, somewhere in the first 5-10 minutes: "I'm talking to the soccer moms and Joe Six-Packs out there. " Real class act. Goldwater, Teddy R, and William F. Buckley must be spinning in their graves! McCain has a lot historically to offer; but instead, he has become a flip-flop, and sold his soul. […] My position begs for a credible argument, yet McCain and Palin have rejected my support, in lieu of a pathetic "aw, shucks, trust me" mind set.

My father surely studies the evidence in this election more than most, but I think he has a point. While Senator Biden spoke the facts, brought the numbers, and kept it classy, Governor Palin stroked the base and brought the small town tack that ultimately undermined any credibility she had. Winking might work in Wasilla, but when trying to woo the fiscal conservatives who liked McCain before the campaign, it just doesn’t cut it.