I kind of wondered about this, how common is it for a political candidate in a close race to play a starring role in the big game?

Maybe because she’s America’s favorite hockey mom? Here’s some sports commentary courtesy of a transcript from Crooks and Liars…

No, no, no, everyone that walks into the room, Kenny, what’s the two things that kill a good party? Religion and politics. So let’s say every fan walking into this building has stated their love for the Flyers tonight, let’s say it’s 50-50 and the election is close. Now they’re presented with a VP candidate, an almost endorsement by the Flyers. And some are uncomfortable with that. Why should they be put in that position? Why don’t they just put rabbis and priests at the door and say come on over to our side?

Daneyko: The Flyers have that right. I think people are a little more intelligent in this country than that to worry about whether Sarah Palin is dropping the puck or not. She’s a celebrity nowadays….

Trautwig: Why would you put a negative mojo into let’s say half the arena, a third of the arena? Why would you want to do that on opening night?

Duguay: But Al, all this is about entertainment. Hockey is entertainment. She’s entertainment. She’s the hockey mom of the States.

Trautwig: To Democratic fans, she’s not entertainment. Fingers on the chalkboard.

Hockey moms, I’ve been told, are generally good sports who don’t throw insults at the children on the opposing team. Pit bulls, I’ve been told, are not bad, just misunderstood. Dick Cheney is hard to understand by his own design. Even Dick Cheney was a young, ambitious, well-connected political operative once. He would have looked terrible in lipstick. Time for a new face.