SPEED

Posted at 8:49 p.m. ET

It is remarkable to see how the McCain campaign has come alive.  Look at the sheer speed with which it responds to every incident.  A year ago John McCain was written off.  But he's now surrounded himself with the best operatives, and with Sarah Palin.

As Adlai Stevenson said after losing in 1952, and as we hope Barack Obama will say in two months, "A funny thing happened to me on the way to the White House..."

The "new" McCain campaign is described by Blake Dvorak at RCP:

As the Politico's Jonathan Martin reported, South Carolina Democratic chairwoman Carol Fowler said that John McCain had chosen a running mate "whose primary qualification seems to be that she hasn't had an abortion."

Almost immediately, the McCain campaign's "Palin Truth Squad" held a conference call with reporters to highlight and respond to Fowler's comments.

On the call was Sen. Lindsey Graham, who said he was "shocked and surprised [Fowler would] say such a thing."

"Our Democratic colleagues and opponents are in a meltdown mode over Gov. Palin," said Graham. "If this were done the other way, it would be a firestorm of national proportions."

And...

Also on the call was Rep. Marsha Blackburn who said that Fowler's comments are part of "a pattern that has come into play" from the Obama campaign and surrogates to "diminished [Palin's] accomplishments and demean the work she has done."

American women "are offended that the [Democratic] party ... is showing such a disrespect for all women," said Blackburn.

Obviously, the attack is being well coordinated:

The SC Republican Party sends over Chairman Katon Dawson's statement on Fowler's comments:

"Carol Fowler's statement is offensive, outrageous and - most importantly - dead wrong. Governor Sarah Palin is a strong pro-life, pro-family reform-minded conservative with meaningful experience whose message has resonated in South Carolina. Fowler's statement is born out of desperation from a campaign that is sputtering across the South.

'Carol Fowler should immediately apologize. Her remarks are unbecoming of a party leader and demonstrate poor judgment. Carol Fowler and Barack Obama are eager to smear - not ready to lead."

On the ball, on the ball, on the ball.

And now an update.  Carol Fowler has caved, and issued this statement:

"I personally admire and respect the difficult choices that women make everyday, and I apologize to anyone who finds my comment offensive. I clumsily was making a point about people in South Carolina who may vote based on a single issue. Whether it's the environment, the economy, the war or a woman's right to choose, there are people who will cast their vote based on a single issue. That was the only point I was attempting to make."

Not much of an answer.  Simply calls attention to the original offense.  Advantage:  McCain.

September 10, 2008.