wombat_socho

There is a big difference between being "qualified" and being "recognized". The media was pissed because McCain did an end-run around them and didn't pick one of their "expected" candidates. If they had listened to Newt Gingrich and Bill Kristol back in June they would have known that Sarah Palin was high on the list. It's their own fault for ignoring her and not doing their due diligence.

This.
The Maverick made his bones with the media originally by sticking his thumb in the eye of the conservative base at nearly every opportunity, and in the end it's no surprise that (despite Palin's best efforts) he got seven million votes less than W got in 2004.

One also has to give Obama credit for running an excellent campaign, though tbqh 53% is no great accomplishment when you're running against an inept McCain campaign and the worst-rated President since Nixon hung up his spikes and went home.