It eliminates the weaknesses inherent in the old style of references that become so watered down they are useless.

CNN: Do references really matter?

This Louisiana delegate was hoping McCain would pick Palin as early as June, feeling the need for McCain to increase his cred on "change" and even more so after Obama watered-down his position as the leading advocate for a different style of leadership in Washington by picking a career Beltway politician as his running mate.

BBC: Republican Convention diary