Palin Bounce Flusters Dems

Democrats have been caught off-guard by Sarah Palin’s appeal, which has helped vault John McCain ahead of Barack Obama in some polls, the LA Times reports. Obama has begun attacking Palin more forcefully, which some Democrats worry will backfire, turning Palin into a “working class heroine,” in one consultant’s words. But others argue Obama must turn up the heat.

A torrent of negative news stories doesn’t seem to have hurt Palin, particularly among white women, who now favor McCain 52% to 41% in one poll. But Democrats foresee that enthusiasm fading after Palin’s far-right views become more widely known. “They need to get that information out,” said one Democratic congressman, “and they need to get it out quickly.” (More John McCain stories.)