The Moment

11/10/08: Wasilla

Some presidential campaigns begin with a speech. Others start by taking the pulse of party leaders. Sarah Palin's 2012 bid kicked off over a steaming pot of moose chili under TV lights in her Alaska kitchen. The former vice-presidential candidate assured the world she was ready, should God open the door for her so much as a smidgen. "I'll plow through," she promised--as if anyone imagined otherwise.

The interval between one campaign and the next is not usually measured in hours. But votes were still being counted as anonymous advisers to Senator John McCain, amid the smoking rubble of their Obama-bombed...

Want the full story?

Subscribe Now

Subscribe
Subscribe

Learn more about the benefits of being a TIME subscriber

If you are already a subscriber sign up — registration is free!