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Prediction: McCain-Palin will win, but not in Rhode Island

6:37 PM Thu, Sep 04, 2008 | Permalink
By Susan Areson

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By John E. Mulligan, Journal Washington Bureau

Rookie Rhode Island delegate Dennis Michaud had no trouble arriving at an unshakable prediction after cheering vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin's speech last night to the Republican Convention.

But first, he said, "I'm not depressed anymore,'' admitting that had felt pretty down in the immediate aftermath of presidential nominee John McCain's announcement last week that he had selected the unknown governor of Alaska. The state's landmass may be large, after all, but its sparse population warrants fewer electoral votes than Rhode Island has. He felt a little better after doing some research on Palin and surmised that the flap over her daughter's pregnancy and other family issues would die down.

Michaud, a Brown graduate who lives off Benefit Street on the East Side of Providence and teaches at Babson Institute in Massachusetts, said Palin showed the nation that "she has a compelling story. She didn't go to Brown. She didn't come from money. I think she has a lot of empathy for working women and working men that the elites don't have -- and just don't understand.''

Palin and McCain make a ticket that "has exceeded everyone's expectations,'' he said, "and I absolutely think we're absolutely going to win now. I don't think it's going to be close.'' Michaud, who is 57, started ticking down the list of potential swing states. "We have an excellent shot at New Hampshire. We're going to carry Virginia. We're going to carry Ohio. We've got an excellent chance in Michigan.''

Um, Rhode Island?

Michaud paused. ``McCain will come close in District 2,'' he said, meaning Rep. Jim Langevin's congressional district, which emcompasses South County and the West Bay. But he said a GOP win statewide remains "unlikely.''

What if more surprises are reported about Palin and her family?

"The more the Democratic attack dogs try to trash her family, the more it's going to hurt the Democrats. Those are good people. The American voters now are tired of that petty stuff.'''

And oh, Michaud adds, did he mention his view of elite institutions of higher learning? "The fact that she didn't go to Harvard is a plus in my book.''