Mary Frances Berry Professor of American Social Thought and History, U. Penn. :
Vice presidents, who have less, or about the same prior distinction, or lack thereof as Sarah Palin have abounded in American history. J. Danforth Quayle, and Spiro Agnew are recent examples. There are also quirky examples like Thomas Marshall, the Indiana lawyer, who was Woodrow Wilson’s Vice President. So being Governor of Alaska qualifies as enough distinction to merit selection to the office. Further, at the time she was selected, right before the convention, she gave McCain at least enough of a boost to have a successful convention. As only the second woman on a major party ticket, Palin’s style and her gender together make her an easy target.