Did Giuliani sink Palin's speech? Apparently Rudy was having so much fun he started improvising, going long and forcing the Republicans to cut Palin's video biography. As Kevin Drum writes, the video bios are kitschy, sappy, and highly effective—and most importantly Palin's fiery speech was written to be delivered after a hagiographic video that established her as a sympathetic and impressive figure of national stature. Without the video to bolster her, the speech came across quite differently; perhaps this, more than anything else, is why independents weren't buying.

In other words, is it possible that Rudy Giuliani's ego just saved the world?

UPDATE: TPM has the video as released to Fox News, describing it as "a glimpse into how the Republicans were planning to sell a soft-focus version of Palin's life as a soft-peddled intro into the harsh, partisan, and undeniably successful speech that followed."

Michigan independents don't like Sarah Palin. Via Ezra Klein.

“I was completely underwhelmed. She was a Republican novelty act with a sophomoric script. It was not even a speech I would expect for a someone running for the local PTA, much less for vice president.”

-- George Lentz, 66, Southfield independent

“Who is Sarah Palin? I'm sorry but I still don't know anymore about this young lady tonight than I did last night ... The way it looks to me, she's the Republican vice presidential nominee for one reason: because Hillary wasn't selected.”

-- Mike Kosh, 38, West Bloomfield independent

"Sarah Palin is a self-described ‘pitbull with lipstick.’ She spent little time helping Americans learn who she is. She is a cool, poised speaker, but her speech contained few statements about policy or the party platform. … I am not convinced that Palin's experience as a mayor or governor in Alaska meet the qualifications to be vice president much less one stroke or heart attack away from being commander in chief.”

-- Ilene Beninson, 52, Berkley independent

“Nothing worked for me. I found her barrage of snide remarksand distortions to be a major turn off. She is not a class act. The most important point she made is that she will be an effective attack dog.”

-- Jan Wheelock, 58, Royal Oak independent

“Sarah got as much applause as Hillary did, and had a friendly, appealing appearance.
Her delivery style reminded me of a high school valedictorian who also might have been a cheerleader. I thought she would appear more professional, more stateswomanly. She's no match for Joe Biden.”

-- Joellen Gilchrist, 64, Beverly Hills independent