I just heard from a die hard Republican female in her late 60s. And we got it all wrong. Sarah Palin was not picked to appeal to Hillary supporters or even women in general.
My Republican friend (who jokes she would vote against Lincoln) will never vote for Obama or any Democrat for any reason. This friend has flirted with the Pentecostal church so she is ideologically on a similar page as Palin. But she is no fool. She worries McCain is using Palin as a token.
But her 40 something son is another issue. He is fired up because "She is hot! Really hot!"
I've heard a number of women say McCain's pick is an insult, "Does McCain think I'm that stupid?" No, McCain understands that no thinking female, no matter how disappointed she is about Hillary's lose, will vote for him.
Granted, McCain needs to solidify the Republican evangelical base and Palin does that. More important it is to separate evangelicals from their money, something that is well underway with $7 million in the first 24 hours after his Vice Presidential announcement.
Keep in mind all females are not liberals or Hillary supporters. On most "feminist" issues like abortion, work, home, etc. there is little difference between male and female attitudes. On some issues like abortion, men are more in agreement than women with the feminist line.
McCain is not banking on the stupidity of women. McCain is banking on the stupidity of men. Sarah is hot, hot, hot! Really hot!
Middle aged white males have been the backbone of Republican voters. This is the demographic segment Palin will appeal to. They would much prefer to drink a beer with Sarah than Joe.