Some of the shine has come off of Mrs. Palin as she struggled to answer questions in interviews. In many cases the VP candidate of John McCain look unprepared or lacked knowledge and the press is delighted although their candidate is less experience but has some of his prepared debated  remarks down.

My belief is Sarah Palin is being extensively prepared for her debate against the gaffe machine Joe Biden. Reports suggest Governor Palin will leave late today for John McCain’s Arizona ranch to prepare for the high-stakes debate.

Mrs. Palin seems to be left hanging in the wind and not properly prepared before her media interviews and apparently Todd Palin even inquired about the slight according to reports in the Wall Street Journal.

“The nature of political campaigns, with all their ups and downs, is for insiders and outsiders and no-siders to register complaints, often anonymously,” said Tucker Eskew, a counselor for Gov. Palin.

“We all in this campaign understand that, and we’re not distracted by it, even as we welcome well-intentioned and good advice.”

Mrs. Palin has drawn huge crowds on the campaign trail where her opponent Biden is lucky to have 2,500 before him. However, it’s one on one, in your face with a “pit bull wearing lipstick” and a seasoned “junk yard dog” with no class.

It’s been reported in recent days that Gov. Palin flubbed quasi-mock debates in New York City and Philadelphia, some operatives said. Finger-pointing began, and then intensified after her faltering interview with CBS anchorwoman Katie Couric.

Last week, nearly half the respondents in a Wall Street Journal/NBC News poll said she is unqualified to be president, while one in three said they were “not at all” comfortable with the idea of Gov. Palin as vice president, up five points from a poll in early September.

I don’t put too much stock in the early polling data but this seems consistent with other reliable polls such as Rasmussen and Gallup. Many prominent Republicans have complained recently that Mrs. Palin is unprepared, some say she is overprepared and should be allowed to be herself.

Thursday’s debate may very well be a game changer depending on any big mistakes or demonstration of being unprepared. Rote answers will not be enough on the national stage and the McCain campaign has recognized this.

McCain’s debate coach, Brett O’Donnell, has been sent to help out and allow Governor Palin to be herself.

“People love Sarah Palin and she’s got a unique personality and presence we need to bring out — not shut down.” Aides will work with her this week to be certain her responses use “her words,” one adviser said.

Politics ain’t beanbag and Mrs. Palin is about to debate a nasty opponent. We wish her well; a lot is riding on her success. The gloves will certainly come off against Joe Biden. We’ll be looking for Barracuda Sarah, Indeed!