It was funny-sad to watch political wonks like Rachel Maddow last night spend airtime debating whether John McCain would dump Sarah Palin from his doomed ticket — a wholly unlikely possibility and, as far as we can tell, it would be only the second time a candidate did that — instead of spend more programming minutes lambasting the d-bags in Congress who didn't vote for the financial bailout package. (Or, depending on which side you're on, the d-bags who did vote for it.)

Because Palin is sticking around through November 4, like it or not. But in the meantime, she needs to brush up on her public speaking, especially when it involves 1) a journalist; and 2) questions. Her VP debate on Thursday is expected to be a bloodsport, with Joe Biden crowned the winner, but that's not the end game. With only one official debate, she still has several weeks of spinning her message through the media and making everyone confident she can hack it like the best of them.

Tacitly acknowledging criticism that she's been diminished in part by an overly protective media shield, Sarah Palin will take a more forward-leaning approach and do additional interviews in the weeks ahead, a top aide said today.

"She's seen the reviews and heard the criticism, but she's a fighter," said this aide. "And now she's in a fighting mood."

Palin heads to McCain's cabin in Arizona today to prepare for her Thursday debate, and while she's there she'll do a round of conservative talk radio interviews.

"Talk radio is a convenient, powerful and effective outlet," said the aide.

Rush Limbaugh, who hosts the most popular radio show in the country, noted in an e-mail that he doesn't invite guests on and alluded to his rocky relationship with the top of the GOP ticket.

"The McCain camp doesn't trust me," Limbaugh said.

But asked if he'd welcome a call from Palin, the conservative talker said: "Of course."

The move to reintroduce Palin comes after much criticism for a stumbling interview she gave to CBS’ Katie Couric last week; increased conservative grousing about the campaign's decision to roll out the GOP vice presidential nominee through high-stakes and high-profile mainstream media interviews; and the suggestion by some observers that she even drop off the ticket.

Quite the contrary, Palin, her family and aides are determined to remind voters what they so liked about the governor in the first place.

After the debate and talk radio hits, the plan is to find a way to let Palin be Palin, moving her away from the pre-fab talking points and letting the down-home daughter of Wasilla be herself.

Which means you can expect a lot more Q&As … and a lot more Tina Fey impersonations.

[Politico]