Beginning with his selection of Alaskan Governor Sarah Palin, Sen. John McCain's campaign has been heaping unexpected twists and turns to the Presidential campaign.
Now, after a first Presidential debate that has generally been scored as a slight victory for McCain's opponent, Sen. Obama, and after press interviews re-enforced perceptions that Gov. Palin is unprepared for the job of Vice President, anticipation is particularly high for the October 2 Vice Presidential debate.
Among those who accept that Gov. Palin is indeed out of her league, it is debated whether her opponent Sen. Biden's best strategy would be to go after her inexperience or to take a "hands off" approach to Sen. Palin, concentrating instead on what he and Sen. Obama plan on bringing to the White House.
Others suggest that Gov. Palin should not be underestimated, pointing to her confident and respectable performances in debates in her successful campaign to be Alaskan Governor.
I suggest a third possibility, another unexpected twist from the McCain campaign ... and the October surprise to end all October surprises. If this scenario in fact comes to pass, I suspect that the Democratic Party will be unable to recover from it, and the Republicans should control the White House for the next twenty years or more.
(All lines Gov. Palin's, except as noted)
GWEN IFILL: Gov. Palin, I’ll direct the first question to you. Do you agree with the $700 billion bail-out plan recently approved by Congress, and what further measures do you think need to be taken to protect our financial system from similar crises in the future? You have two minutes.
Thank you, Gwen.
I can't tell you all how moved I am. I never in my wildest dreams ... imagined that I would be the object of so much genuine affection.
It makes it more difficult for me to say what I'm now going to say. I do feel it's time to set the record straight.
I didn't come here just as a Vice Presidential candidate.
I came to this debate to settle a score.
My forefathers built this nation.
But to their women, their children, the Native Americans, and the African Americans ... they were unmerciful tyrants.
They drove the Native Americans to drink.
In fact, they went riding one time and lost all their teeth.
The oldest daughter, the pretty, charming one, became pregnant ... and was driven out of the house.
She was so terrified that her daughter would bear the stigma of illegitimacy ... she changed her name and contracted a disfiguring disease ... after moving to Tangiers, where she raised the girl as her sister.
But her one ambition ... was to become a Governor.
So she returned to the Alaska and ran for mayor ... of Wasilla, Alaska.
She worked there and had to speak out ... wherever she saw injustice and inhumanity.
Don't you understand that, Sen. Biden?
BIDEN: I ... don’t have any idea what you’re talking about.
Yes, you do. She was shunned by all you news media-types, too.
Her outspokenness threatened you politicians.
But she was deeply, deeply, deeply loved ... by her brother.
GWEN IFILL: Her brother?
This brother, on the day of her death ... swore to the good Lord above he'd follow in her footsteps.
And, and, and ... just, just, just ... owe it all up to her!
But on her terms!
BIDEN: Here come the terms.
As a woman ... and just as proud to be a woman ... as she ever was ... for I am not Sarah Heath Palin ... the daughter of Charles ... and Sally Heath.
GWEN IFILL: You’re not?
No, I'm not.
I'm Samuel Heath, Sarah's reckless brother.
Samuel Heath, who's finally vindicated his sister's good name.
I'm Samuel Heath. Samuel Heath.
BIDEN: I'll be damned.
I'm not mentally ill, but proud ... and lucky to be the woman that was the best part of my manhood.
The best part of myself.