The Palin "appointment" is truly an odd one. However, it has to be thought about in a Rovian and Republican mindset. Their thing (one of the main ones anyways), however, is race-baiting and thinking of Palin in this way makes her naming even more diabolical. More on that below the fold:
The surface aspect of naming Palin, and the one that all seem to note, is that it was done to attract the support of the PUMAs and other disaffected Hillary supporters. However, two recent polls, referenced earlier on Kos show, in fact, that men are far more willing to give Palin the benefit of the doubt than women.
Thinking of that, it makes me wonder whether naming Palin was not really directed so much at women, than at those legions of "red-blooded" men who are still skittish about voting for a "black man." These are the folks who very well may be conflicted over economic interests and other, identity type pulls.
Whatever one says about Sarah Palin, she is an attractive woman and very sensual images of her have been purveyed by the Rethugs...guns, fecundity, her out-doorsyness. Perhaps, the target audience is not whom we assume. In any case, whether my hypothesis is reasonable or wack-o, the Obama people ought to think about this aspect as well.