Sarah Palin's nickname in high school was "Sarah Barracuda" because she was such a ferocious basketball player. (Her team won the the state small-school championships in 1982.) Also, she's worked on a commercial fishing boat alongside her husband.

Palin's versatility and authenticity is obvious to anyone who's heard her story. She's a tremendously impressive candidate and her selection can't do anything but boost McCain's chances.

Hopefully somebody at the RNC will invite Gretchen Wilson to perform Heart's great "Barracuda" at the convention. Wilson's success with "Redneck Woman" in 2004 was a harbinger of Bush's victory, and the GOP might profit by associating her authenticity with Sarah Palin's.

Update: Apparently, Gretchen is already scheduled to be there.