Breaking Down Palin's Pricey Duds
On the night she addressed the Republican National Convention, Gov. Sarah Palin was dressed for success.
The self-described "hockey mom" was sporting a $2,500 Valentino blazer.
Palin's carefully cultivated "Joe Six Pack" image is now bumping up against a six-figure wardrobe, CBS News correspondent Nancy Cordes reports.
Federal records show in the 54 days since she joined Sen. John McCain's ticket, the Republican National Committee has spent $75,062.63 for clothes at Neiman Marcus and $49.425.74 at Saks Fifth Avenue.
All perfectly legal, says a former chairman of the Federal Election Commission, although: "I would be the first to tell you that public-relations wise it is a mess!" said Scott Thomas.
As it was for Hillary Clinton when her $3,000 hairstylist bill came to light - or John McCain with his $520 Italian loafers - or John Edwards, whose $400 haircut has been satired online.
Candidates have a tough needle to thread, says Maxine Rizik, who's been dressing Washington power women for 58 years.
"You do need to spend some money," she said. "And you need to look well."
"Does it have to be $150,000?" Cordes asked. "For three months?"
Rizik said: "You can do it for less. Much less! Yes!"
And while private donations paid for Palin's pricey duds, she's also facing questions about the $55,000 she charged Alaska taxpayers - so her family could travel with her to events the past two years.
Alaska's law is vague.
But when it comes to the clothes, the campaign is crystal clear. After the fashion faux pas came to light, they said all the clothes will be going to charity.
