Remember when this election was just Barack Obama vs. John McCain, the with-it youthful hopey dude vs. the old-time cranky man who can't operate basic consumer electronics? And then 44-year-old Sarah Palin hits the scene, her lipstick all poppin', and blammo – who's fresh now, Grampy Obama?

Republicans, whose previous strategy for dealing with the youth vote was tricking young Democrats into forgetting to vote, are starting to realize they may be able to use Palin to make inroads with people under the age of 65.

And how's that going for them?

Young voters may see the 44-year-old Gov. Palin as in tune with their concerns in a way that Sen. John McCain, her 72-year-old running mate, could never be.

"She reminds me of my friends," said Allyson Wartick, 20, a sophomore at the University of Wisconsin in Milwaukee.

Geez, I had no idea kids today were so into lying about bridges, flipflopping on earmarks, opposing choice, mocking community organizers and having lots of babies in furtherance of a conservative, evangelical agenda.

Then again, I'm so uncool I can't even name one of the Jonas Brothers.