ANALYSIS: Candidates exemplify nation’s love of embellishment

Being a mayor of 9,780 is nothing like leading 305 million. Living next to Russia does not make you a foreign-policy whiz. And presidential competence is rarely measured in square miles.

But listen closely. Such unexpected comparisons are everywhere as Republicans scramble to inflate the commendable but limited public service resume of vice-presidential candidate Sarah Palin. Who knows what you might hear next?

“She’s got an incredible resume,” Sen. John McCain said of his running mate Wednesday. He added an unusual qualification for vice president: “a wonderful, loving, caring family.”

Here’s Mrs. Palin’s resume as it happened:

• Governor, state of Alaska: Dec. 2006-present.

• Mayor, Wasilla, Alaska (population: 9,780): 1996-2002.

• City Council, Wasilla, Alaska: 1992-1996.

• University of Idaho; TV sportscaster and family fishing business.

• Miss Wasilla: 1984

Here’s her resume as Mr. McCain and his fellow Republicans have been casting and constructing it:

• Mr. McCain: “Alaska is right next to Russia.” “Well, the people of Alaska have vetted her.” “She’s commander of the Alaskan National Guard.” “Of course, it helps to be mayor.”

• Missouri Gov. Matt Blunt: “You could make a strong case that her experience exceeds any other’s in the race.” That’s a hard case to make when Senate veterans McCain and Joseph R. Biden Jr., Sen. Barack Obama’s running mate, have 58 years of congressional experience between them.

• Former New York Mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani: “She’s got an 80 percent approval rating.”

• Hawaii Gov. Linda Lingle: “You can fit more than 250 states the size of Delaware within Alaska’s border.” Mr. Biden, Mrs. Palin’s Democratic rival for vice president, represents Delaware in the Senate.

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