Essential reading: Associated Press interviews McCain's top vetter, who says the Alaska governor underwent a "full and complete" background check before being selected.
And/but: More essential reading: A skeptical NY Times: "Republicans close to the campaign said it was increasingly apparent that Ms. Palin had been selected as Mr. McCain's running mate with more haste than McCain advisers initially described...."
"A Republican close to the campaign": “They didn't seriously consider her until four or five days from the time she was picked, before she was asked, maybe the Thursday or Friday before. This was really kind of rushed at the end, because John didn't get what he wanted. He wanted to do Joe [Lieberman] or Ridge.”
Plus: Anchorage Daily News says "in Alaska, it was hard to find anyone who had been contacted by McCain's campaign" as part of a Palin vet.
HALPERIN'S TAKE: The unanswered questions about Sarah Palin.
