If I were to pin point the emotional or pop attraction to Palin it would be that of shared identity not beauty.

Many under educated people know that they have more common sense than "book lernin" DIng! jus like Palin. Many people feel that their religious beliefs are held up to ridicule by educated elites. DIng! jus like Palin.
Many people feel that if only they had a couple lucky breaks they could play the system for all its worth and rake in cash and fame. DIng! jus like Sarah! Many people feel like they have been reduced to a low rung on the socio economic ladder just above trailer trash with all their woes like unwanted pregnancies and cheatin husbands. DING jus like Sarah Palin. Many older guys in the military like her because she like them are not considered intellectual giants but really like anyone who praises the military aboive any other endeavor in life. Ding Palin does the trick for them.

THey like her because she's plain, not outrageously beautiful.
She is jus plain Palin jus talkin the plain ol mavericky talk that mavericks talk.

talkin heads use fancy talk and say that she is appealing because she is not a slick politically correct packaged entity.

Well maybe she was before the McCain campaign but it ain't so now.