by Lance Thompson

In the first head-to-head contest of executive judgment, John McCain, with originality and boldness, has deftly outmaneuvered newcomer Barack Obama.

The choice of a running mate is usually a sideshow in presidential campaigns, with conventional wisdom holding that a good choice doesn’t help much, but a bad choice can be devastating. This is probably what informed Obama’s decision to tap Delaware Senator Joe Biden as his running mate. Biden, with many years experience in the Foreign Relations committee, was seen as a seasoned, experienced hand for the bottom of the ticket. Biden was a safe choice from the Democrat roster.

But Obama did have an alternative, and in the unique environment of this year’s Democrat campaign, that alternative offered a chance to reclaim the mantle of a trans-political candidate. That alternative was, of course, Hillary Clinton. Having run a brilliant campaign which won the nomination from the front-runner, Obama was in a position to demonstrate the transcendent thinking that he had claimed was his alone. As difficult as it would have been for Obama to tolerate the Clintons in the administration–and I do not by any means underestimate the friction that would necessarily result–Obama had a chance to unite a divided party and bring Clinton supporters into the tent. Such a choice would have been a huge story, and would have demonstrated Obama’s wisdom, generosity, and selflessness. The convention would have been a real celebration of unity, not an attempt to plaster over the deep fissure between the two factions. For Obama, Biden was the safe choice and the easy choice, but he certainly will sacrifice a percentage of Clinton supporters to that decision.

Perhaps the Obama campaign calculated that risk, and thought it was worth taking. After all, even with shopworn Biden on the ticket, Obama is clearly the charismatic candidate of a new generation. When Biden got the nod, the most likely running mates for McCain were Mitt Romney and Tim Pawlenty. Both were good choices, popular with conservatives, but unlikely to surprise anyone or invigorate the McCain campaign.

John McCain instead chose the relatively unknown governor of Alaska, Sarah Palin. In one stroke, McCain pulled the rug out from under Obama’s safe, conventional ticket, and scored highly in several categories.

First, Palin is a strong conservative. Her pro-life and family-first credentials are unquestionable, as she lives by the principles she espouses. She’s a lifetime member of the NRA. She fought and rooted out corruption in Alaska state government, even standing up to Alaska Senator Ted Stevens’ famous bridge-to-nowhere boondoggle. Those who doubted McCain’s commitment to conservatism have reason to be reassured. His first choice for his administration is a conservative stalwart.

Palin is a next-generation politician. At age 44, she has a long career ahead of her. She’s a Washington outsider, not a holdover from a previous administration. Rising to the prominence of a national campaign, she points the way to the future of Republican politics. She’s not part of a dynasty, which both parties seem to be weary of by now. She’s a fresh face with strong principles who now has a presidential campaign in which to put them forth.

Palin is a woman. The GOP is not known for practicing identity politics, but the timing could not have been better for choosing a female running mate. If McCain had made a more conventional choice, Obama’s rejection of Hillary would have had little effect on the campaign. But with Palin on the ticket, the Democrat team looks tired and conventional by comparison. McCain’s choice demonstrates his thinking–the future of the Republican party is young, conservative, and diverse. Obama’s choice skews toward the familiar and predictable.

Likewise, if Obama had chosen Hillary, McCain’s choice of Palin would have looked like the GOP was trying to counterprogram with a female running mate. Obama’s choice of Biden gave McCain an open field to demonstrate just how mentally agile he could be, and how inclusive the Republicans are.

Palin will also bring conservative donors and supporters back to the GOP ticket. McCain never quite closed the sale with the conservative base, but this may be the signal they’ve been waiting for. Reaction to Palin last week was overwhelmingly positive from conservatives.

McCain helped himself tremendously with this choice, while Obama ducked a chance to do the same. Both decisions reveal much about the characters of the men running for President. Crucial decisions will be made on a daily basis in the White House. We now have a better idea who would be best equipped to handle them.