At the risk of opening an old wound...

I will not try and make the case that Sarah Palin was the victim of character assassination because I do not believe that is the case. The Journal of Experimental Psychology posits that the hyperfocus (by everyone) on Sarah Palin's looks cost John McCain the election. At first I was skeptical, but the study (unlike the teaser) does a good job of noting that the focus was on the effect of Palin's looks on Republicans and moderates.