WASHINGTON - Republican presidential hopeful John McCain picked social conservative Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin to be his running mate.
Palin, not particularly well-known nationally, was previously a small-town mayor who beat the Alaska incumbent governor Frank Murkowski in the state’s Republican primary in 2006 and went on to win in the general election.
The 44-year-old one-term governor is an opponent of abortion rights, a lifetime member of the National Rifle Association and a fiscal conservative — not to mention an avid sportswoman and a beauty pageant winner.
While some social conservatives have been skeptical about McCain as the Republican nominee, will his choice of Palin help win them over? Will the selection of a woman draw some disaffected supporters of Hillary Clinton who were disappointed she was not on the Democratic ticket? Did McCain successfully prevent a bounce for his opponent Barack Obama, who wrapped up his nominating convention on Thursday evening?
Click here for more Reuters 2008 campaign coverage.
- Photo credit: Reuters/Matt Sullivan (Palin appears for the first time as the Republican vice presidential running mate with McCain.)
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I am surprised how shallow our people have become. We are willing to run into the arms of a one term senator, whose previous employment includes having been a state senator and an “activist”.
Obama is nothing more than a Black Panther in a Brooks Brothers suit; the fact people have forgotten our own history and who this man is and who his allies are is frightening.
At this rate we probably will elect Paris Hilton President in a few years; at least she actually had an energy plan that made sense.
- Posted by JimPalin:
Resume
City council member and mayor of a town of 8,500 people.
20 months as governor of a state of 650,000 people.
PTA Member
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Kevin B
I’m saying it now: President Barack H. Obama, Jr., 2009 - 2017
- Posted by KbAt the risk of sounding really cynical, McCain’s choice is a great choice to energize republicans for the simple reason that if you can get people to vote against their interests because they pick the guy they’d like to have a beer with (Bush) then you can get these same republican dupes to vote against their interests because they think Daddy McCain’s VP is pretty and the image of her standing loyally by McCain’s side will feed these male voters’ own egos of where a woman’s place should be (be beautiful and submissive). I wish it weren’t the case but that’s how these guys think and they’ll vote that ticket for all the wrong reasons.
- Posted by JoshHillary supporters are feminists and strongly pro-women’s reproductive rights. Palin is a gun-totin’ oil-drilling, anti-woman woman, what a horrible choice.
McCain’s only hope would have been to pick someone with a strong economic background.
Signed, a former Hillary supporter.
Obama/Biden 08!!!!!
- Posted by JenniferThe question is: “Would you vote for Palin for President?” Given McCain’s age, medical history, and failing memory, she would truly be second in command. And by the way, how can this mother of five, one of whom has Down’s syndrome, find the time to be the good old American mom she wants the public to think she is? Then of course there is the issue of her ex-brother-in-law—-??????
- Posted by Richard GustafsonI can believe this instead of finding a running mate with a believable back ground “he find a female from Alaska “LOL. This woman is new to the political process, and our President elect thinks he deservers to elected “PRESIDENT of the United State”?
- Posted by BIG GUYAre you joking me?
Two X chromosome do not a president make. Hillary Clinton was the woman who could get the job done, and we loved and respected her for who she is, her experience and what’s she’s done for this country.
Palin is NOT ready to be commander in chief
- Posted by patricia blakeGovernor Palin gives “young and inexperienced” a whole new dimension. Talk about hypocrisy! The Vice-Presidency is a heartbeat away from the Presidency (and in McCain’s case that’s a very old heart indeed). How in God’s green Earth does the McCain campaign hope to get away with attacking Senator Obama for his lack of experience now?!
- Posted by sacto joeIf McCain thinks this will woo the Hilary voters, he is wrong. In fact it is degrading to women voters everywhere for him to think this woman is in Hilary’s league at all.
Women werent voting for Hilary because she is a woman. It is because she is smart, experienced, tough and had Bill. This woman has none of that. Women are smarter than this. McCain has shot himself in the foot on this one.
- Posted by Beckythis man has a strong experience and he is a good leader also , not with the big words, much more realist i would say, but what can we do, impressionism is a fashion trend!and now fashion rules the campaign over US, it think those people are doing a big mistake again, but hey what can we do!the republican is rejected as a solution for US future.
- Posted by Burca Alice LarisaPalin is certainly a interesting pick. I feel it is a bit gimmicky though. If the voters see past that to the quality Palin will bring to the office, then it should be a good thing. After all she is the only one of them with executive experience. She is willing to battle both parties, and is fierce on corruption. I agree with marie, it will indeed be tough for Biden to use his regular “beat’em up” tactics in debates against her.
- Posted by danThis was a bold selection by McCain for a running mate and it should work out well for him. Sarah Palin has real world experience governing, while by comparison Senator Joe Biden is primarily known as foreign policy imperialist.
- Posted by Chris Baker (US)Women voters who are progressive and pro-choice would have a difficult time voting for McCain/Palin, just because Palin is on the ticket. They would have to be pretty stupid to vote for them. Is Palin ready to be commander-in-chief if McCain dies? I think not.
- Posted by Michael JI like Palin even though I’m a registered Democrat. I probably would have voted for her reelection as governor unless the Dems could come up with someone really brilliant. Now, though, I seriously question her judgment. What kind of responsiblity does this show?
Sarah Palin is a brilliant young politician BUT—
Her lieutenant governor is running for national office also. If they both should win, her party will leave Alaska with no head, after only two years. Certainly there would be a special election, but at what cost, and for goodness’ sake, who would run? Most of Alaska’s Republican leaders are under some kind of indictment or ethical cloud right now. The state’s Democratic party is energized but small and relatively weak. Her leaving will lay Alaska open to the wolves of big oil and rampant resource extraction. I am deeply, deeply disappointed in her.
She has a newborn with special needs and other kids of school age, yet she is going to be running for a demanding and important political job. This is a family centered social conservative?
I surely hope that the disappointed Hillary supporters will recognize that they are being pandered to, and will resist the bait that is being held out to them. Is it a brilliant move? Maybe, for the short-term publicity, but for the long-term health of the US electorate and the State of Alaska, it is stunningly foolish.
- Posted by Louise HeiteI think McCain has just nullified all rights he had to the “Obama’s not qualified” tactic…
- Posted by ChristianA successful politician must use subtle actions to shape people’s minds in his/her favor…. without them being cognizant of it. If a voter is aware that someone is trying to shape their mind, they typically react poorly.
Hillary’s female voters will see this obvious ploy as an insult to their intelligence… Hillary’s voters love her not only because she’s a women, but because of who she is. If McCain “got it”, he would have subtly chosen a candidate that represents Hillary’s values as a person, not one that merely has the same sexual organs.
- Posted by TimWith all due respect, Kevin B, you are a raging idiot.
God spare us from lunatics like yourself.
Barack Hussein Obama is a radical leftist, Marxist, dangerous loonie. We have not yet seen all the skeletons in his closet.
Ayers, Wright, Obama. This is your Holy Trinity ticket, Kevin B. Make sure you send in a huge donation.
- Posted by CA docPalin is strongly pro-life, and the HRC voters, I believe find the issue of abortion to be on the top of their list, so I do not think Palin will be able to take any votes from the Democrats. Also, the issue of a vice presidental pick is more important if the presidental candidate is of advanced age, so Palin should more so be seen as someone who has a greater probability of being president. I will say it will be tough on Biden to beat up as effectively on a female rather than male veep candidate, however. He has cred with females, though, so his graciousness without condescension will carry the day.
- Posted by Marie - OhioThis is a serious fight to the finish. i hope both candidates ate their spinach for muscle buildup…lol
- Posted by shawnAnd what will the Obama campaign do in reaction to this announcement? They will be brilliant… and ignore it.
Barack and Joe will carry on what they started during this convention, and it will be all about McCain/Bush, all the time.
March on…
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Kevin B
I’m saying it now: President Barack H. Obama, Jr., 2009 - 2017
- Posted by Kb