I watched Barack Obama's acceptance speech at the DNC Thursday night and didn't know quite what to think. He had three hard acts to follow in the rousing, emotional, pitch-perfect speeches of Michelle Obama, Hillary Clinton, and the master, Bill Clinton.

I think he did well enough. He covered his bases, got a little more specific on what he means by "change". He had a couple of good lines, and at the end hinted at why he's considered a great orator.

But he didn't get me in my gut, either. I didn't feel that same catch-my-breath wow as after the race speech, or after the first time watching the will.i.am "Yes We Can" video.

I just thought that on the whole, the Dems really took back the race from the creeping malaise of August poll slumps. They presented a much more credible, interesting argument than they had in 2004, 2000, or even 1996.

I figured the Republicans would nail up their own coffin with a stultifying tea party in St. Paul for a guy they barely like.

Then John McCain drafted a surprise player — Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin. Her name had been mentioned as a potential veep candidate, but never seriously. The media was parked in the bushes outside the hotel rooms of guys like Mitt Romney and Tim Pawlenty.

Knowing nothing about the 44-year-old, I had to consult the oracle of Wikipedia. Then I felt the butterflies return.

She's very interesting. Mother of five, including a Down syndrome baby just five months old. New governor of Alaska. Bigtime maverick not afraid to take down members of her own party for a good cause. Bright, articulate, clearly a rising star on a conservative course parallel to Obama's. And hot, of course. Former beauty pageant hot.

It was a great move on McCain's part, as well as showing just how desperate he is to reach his goal. Palin is someone he barely knows, someone barely more than half his age, with scant government credentials.

But she looks good, sounds good, and has a compelling backstory. She's got a vagina, which his team clearly hopes will bring in the disgruntled Hillary supporters.

I love the fact that she comes from the coldest frontier state, while he comes from one of the hottest. It's a fire and ice, old and new combo. It could work, but more likely will just crack the fragile glass, like when you make iced coffee without tempering the concoction with a spoon.

Watching the press conference where Palin introduced herself to the world, it was clear from McCain's body language that this is as uncomfortable a shotgun marriage as the Mondale-Ferraro hitchup in 1984.

McCain looked like he was giving the keys to his lovingly restored classic Corvette to his teenaged daughter. His forced smile and stiff carriage as he waited for the girl to finish her speech and jump into the background said it all.

Can Sarah inject enough juice into the ticket without becoming an obvious admission of fear by an old warrior? We'll see.

Rebecca Wakefield is MOLI's Election Center editor.