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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Sorry fellow Republicans…
Biden will eat her alive in the debates…
She may hold her own at Energy policy but when it shifts to Foriegn policy, she is T O A S T. I applaud McCan’ts choice but tell me when a VP has ever made a difference?
Bush Sr. won with DAN QUAYLE! Enough said?????
- Posted by ChrisAlaska, home of corruption, oil drilling and population that is accustomed to having their public officials under investigation while running for office. Thanks RNC for continuing the fear and ignorance that has delivered the worse administration so far! I want CHANGE!
Edward
- Posted by EdwardMcCain would be a great addition to the cast of “LOST”. He’s really out of touch, with his own Republican agenda, and women voters. What an insult to women voters. He’ picks what may amount to be a trophy VP. Why isn’t this obvious to Palin? I’m an Independent voter and can see right through this. Expect another McCain camp shakeup over this. The VP debates should be fun!
- Posted by darrylSmokey Joe..
Could not agree with you more. I am a registered Republican but will not ever in my life vote for McCain, even if he picked Jesus as his running mate…
- Posted by ChrisKGC
Some of us do have our brains engaged.
- Posted by ChrisWe (I) am not comparing the experience level of Obama vs. Palin. The reality of the matter is that since HRC started trumpeting the “CINC Threshold Test” at Obama, the RNC has used this as one of their primary weapons. The fact of the matter is that the MEDIA will be putting this fact out at every turn. Although I do agree with you that she is not at the top of the ticket, she is ON the ticket and this now trumps the RNC’s “experience” question. The RNC has just lost a weapon.
John McCain’s pick of Sarah Palin is a SOLID one for REAL Conservatives, and announcing the pick today is a strategic masterpiece, knocking out Barack Obama/Joe Biden’s after convention euphoria!.
Did I mention that I loved EVERYTHING she said after being introduced by John McCain?
EVERYTHING!! OsiSpeaks[dot]com
- Posted by KYJurisDoctorThe first most important decision a commander-in-chief makes is his choice of VP. I was really hoping McCain would have a more sensible decision making ability than this.
I am disenchanted, disappointed, and so should every other Republican be. McCain is no spring chicken. Let’s be realistic - if he wins the election, Palin will be our President sooner or later. His choice was so, so vital, and he blew it!
It’s going to be the most painful lever-pull I have ever had to do on November 4, but Obama now has my vote.
- Posted by GOP DisappointeeIt must just be me, but something feels wrong about a mother leaving a newborn for such a busy job? Will she be able to breastfeed still? And having a baby at 44? She said she was surprised in an interview, but she must have assessed the risks of having a baby so late in life?
I consider myself to be very liberal when it comes to women’s rights but this just doesn’t feel right. Children should always come first, then your career, both for men and women. I think this sends the wrong message.
- Posted by ElizabethSarah Palin is under investigation here in our state for abuse of power and ethics violations. McCain REALLY screwed up today!
- Posted by BootsWell… Judging by the hysterical backlash, I’m thinking McCain has hit a home run with this move!
- Posted by vastrightwingSarah Palin is no Hillary Clinton…..OBAMA 08!
- Posted by rayfield spiresMcCain is in serious state of panic and this is a show or desperation.
- Posted by mikeEven though the polls have show the race to be close and McCain to sometimes be ahead percentage-wise, he has consustently be behind whne those numbers are tallied as probably electoral votes at the state levels.
Some women may be swayed, but the majority of women won’t when they look at her record on being anti-choice, for big oil, anti-environmental, and the truth about corruption in Alaska politics. And her experience cred is a joke given the size of the town she was mayor of the low population of Alaska.
Anybody up for a floor fight at the GOP convention? If you were a Romney delegate, would you be able to mindlessly support Pretty Woman?
- Posted by rjaDear Senator McCaine,
I am an independent that in the past has voted Republican for President. After watching the Democratic Convention this week, I anxiously waited for you to name your running mate.
I must say that I was greatly disappointed. I have been concerned about our economy and electing a President that is over 70. I felt confident that you would choose a running mate that would have the experience to help turn the economy around and take over the office of President if anything would happen to you.
I feel that your choice is an insult to women and their intelligence. I’m not going to vote for a person because of their gender, age or how many children they have.
I’m sad to say that you have just lost my vote. I can not vote for a man that chooses a running mate just to try and swing Hillary Clinton voters. I want a person for President that is going to put the welfare of the nation first and appoint a running mate that is the most qualified person for the position.
Regretfully,
Michelle Carlisle
- Posted by Michelle CarlisleSouth Weber, UT
Come on! He’d be the oldest guy ever elected prez, and she’s a heartbeat away from the job??? And McCain says Obama isn’t ready to be commander in chief? Let’s be honest. It is a cynical attempt to use a pretty girl — yes, politically she is but a girl — to buy votes. Can you imagine that a single Hilary supporter would fall for this. He’s a clown.
- Posted by rjaHey Smokey Joe,
- Posted by mtRepublicans are “…the party of the wealthy elite…”?
John Kerry is the richest man in Congress. Google up the wealthiest in Congress. The democrats want you to beleive they are the little guys. And you beleive. Yummy Yummy Kool-Aid.
As an American neighbor, I think the choice of Sarah Palin is downright scary. I hope the citizens of the most powerful nation in the world will not risk having a leader with zero foreign policy experience should something happen to John McCain in the event he is elected President.
- Posted by sgpStacy - an 80% approval rate among 650,000 people is meaningless; there are towns and cities with larger populations. Mrs Palin would be a disaster as a potential President.
- Posted by David CunardYo Sacto Joe:
- Posted by mtThank you for raisng the political discourse bar with your comment -
“Spoken like a typical brainless knee-jerk Republican dolt.”
Attack, Attack, Attack. Just like all the democrats who want to silence all mention of Obama’s cozy friendship with the founders of the Weather Underground terrorists- Bill Ayers and Bernardine Dohrn. Does the past count, Sacto? Drink a little more Kool-Aid, Joe.
To cobra74 , you’re my hero
To sacto joe, you’re knee jerk reaction is typical of what’s gone horribly wrong in this country.
McCain/Pilan 08
- Posted by Janet Johsnon