WTF is up with the timing of this announcement?

[ChrisFromNJ]

Why couldn't McCain's campaign (and Palin) wait until after the convention?

The American people essentially have a blank slate on what Sarah Palin stands for and who she is.

Why not let her speak at the RNC, tell the American people about her compelling life story, let potential voters get a good first impression, and then a few weeks later release this info?

Why do it right now, especially when Palin had consecutive days of glowing press coverage that wasn't likely to stop? This announcement effectively ended that glowing press coverage in its tracks.

It makes no sense, IMO.

[Lief 🗽]

The National Inquirer (or one of those trash magazines) was about to break the story, so they had to.

[Keystone Phil]

Why would someone wait until even closer to the election to announce "bad" news? Today was the best day to dump this.

[cinyc]

Look at the calendar and the weather.  Then turn on your late-local news to see how many of these "scandals" are actually reported.

[Torie]

Better obviously to get this all out before Palin speaks in her big moment with national attention, rather than after. This way the GOP can shape the story more to its advantage, with phalanxes of them available to go on the tube to chat Sarah up - particularly the Alaskans.