The reports I've seen suggest otherwise:

http://www.mediacurves.com./Politics/J6992-Palin/

Among the study findings:

After viewing Palin’s speech, a greater number of respondents across all parties believe that selecting Governor Sarah Palin for vice president will help John McCain’s campaign. Republicans were especially positive about the implications of this pick, nearly three-quarters of whom suggest that this nomination will “definitely help” his campaign. After viewing the speech, 70% Republicans say they will “definitely” vote for the McCain/Palin ticket after viewing Palin’s speech.

There is a positive change in how independents anticipate voting in the Presidential election after viewing Palin’s speech, with a 9% increase among independents indicating that they will probably or definitely vote for the McCain/Palin ticket after watching the speech.

Palin’s speech proved to be equally effective in swaying votes for both men and women. Among the independents who watched her speech, respondents who report that they will “probably” or “definitely” vote for McCain increased by 10% across both genders, around 38% of female independents and 36% of their male counterparts

There is no great polarization, just a greater distinction now between McCain-Palin and Obama-Biden.

The numbers of TV viewers nearly matching Obama's sky-high figures, for someone making her _first_ prime time nation-wide speech of importance, illustrate the breadth of her appeal to so many.

If McCain and Palin offer _real_ change, reform, in Washington, they should win.