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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you guys know where this is going right? the republicans will use the christian right again like the did last election. pro-life and pro-choice argument is going to be what the republicans will try to push. this will galvanize the christian conservative. palin is pro life and carried a baby with down syndrome to full term. watch her speech at the republican national convention. this fight is far from over if they get the conservatives heated enough.
- Posted by MOThis is just like failed Harriet Miers appointment to the Supreme Court. Repubs are picking a person without the experience for the job, but because she’s a woman and born again, they think we’ll just accept her. Miers was wrong for the Supreme Court, and Palin is wrong for VP. Does the party think that we’re not smart enough to want the best person for the job? Palin is the best they could get? Give me a break.
- Posted by bbI love all the Liberals who flatter themselves with the notion McCain chose Palin to capture Hillary voters. While I’m sure thats an added bonus try to think beyond what the media wants you talking about today and consider for a moment John McCains relationship with his party going into this race.
McCain has moved greatly toward the middle on many important conservative issues in recent years and has put many conservatives off for that. There are numerous Conservative Republicans who denounced him when it became clear he would be the top runner and at the same time they announced they’d be staying home on election day because they couldn’t support him. Choosing a VP who gets What American Conservatives are hungry for and gets them to the booth 11/4 makes her an excellent choice to win back disgruntled conservatives and the recent polls show McCain/Obama with a 2% to 3% spread which is crazy close. It’s clear to me by the Democrat/Liberal responses seen here today are of rage and panic because finally for the first time,they realize Bon Jovi may actually have to fight to win this race.
The icing on the cake for me personally will be when the debates begin and the hard questions are asked. I’m stocking up on popcorn and diet sodas in anticipation.
- Posted by Janet JohsnonThis was a hail mary pass. And it certainly isn’t good decision making for the American people, even if it might help him getting elected. This is awful governing in my view.
She has no real experience on the global stage, far less so than you can say of Obama. Nor I bet in well established relationships with her party’s power brokers. She doesn’t know her way around Washington, which like it or not is needed to get things done. Washington is a world of lobbying sharks and compromise to get sufficient votes in Congress for anything to get done.
The Neilson ratings story is only part of how many watched Obama accept his nomination. Add in people who watched online, on Cspan, on PBS and in the re-runs available, and compare them to audience for McCain and you will see the true state of affairs in this election.
-a lady democrat leaning toward voting republican this shoved me back to the democratic party.
- Posted by Elaine SouthardAnyone remember the Mondale/Ferraro disaster? This looks to be another such losing combination, but this time with a red tint instead of blue. They’ll win more than one state, to be sure, but hardly enough to overcome the democrats. I’ll bet even some of the “safe” southern states are now at risk!
- Posted by Chuck from CaliforniaCongrats Obama……… continue to be JFKlike and you will make this country great once again……..
Shame on you McCain…… 72 years old and throwing that selection out there…… shame on you!! That is a slap in the face to EVERY citizen of this country for your pathetic gimmicktry!!!!!
- Posted by JohnMcCain/Palin: The Ticket That Rocks!
This could very well be a knockout blow for Obama. Already in trouble with female voters and losing ground in key states has spelled trouble. A marginal or safe pick on the part of McCain for VP would have made the race close. However, this is a clear victory for McCain. She’s popular with right leaning groups that have concerns about McCain and she also brings voter segments along for the ride.
Say goodnight Obama!
- Posted by JimSarah who?
- Posted by GaryWasilla, the town in which Palin was once mayor, is a small sleepy town and nothing worth writing home about. How can someone with such little experience bring anything to the table for McCain?
- Posted by Bryan L.So umm biden was change? Really that guy is oldschool politian hes not for change he’s the same biden as last year and 10 years ago.
- Posted by stacyAlaska is corrupt. Alaska is absolutely corrupt. Alaska is owned and ruthlessly controlled by the same oil companies that employ Palin’s husband and rape you when you buy gasoline .
Palin fired the Alaska Commissioner of Public Safety in retaliation for his refusal to fire her ex brother-in-law (an Alaska State trooper).
The high-water mark of Republican sleaze may yet rise as high as the flood stains on a New Orleans whore house.
Alaskan
- Posted by JayHave any of you seen the movie pursuit of happiness?
well if you did you will realize that happiness is not an american dream, but the pursuit is. That in mind democracts want you to believe they can give you happiness and thats not life people.
- Posted by stacyWow! A beauty contest winner AND a member of the NRA!
Sounds like someone who would be fun to date for a few months.
Don’t think that qualifies her to run the most powerful country on earth!
- Posted by BadgerbayI really don’t know much about Palin, but I’ve read good and bad things about her so far.
I don’t really understand comments like this, “A thinly veiled attempt attempt to energize his campaign that isn’t going to work. McCain just threw his biggest argument against Obama out the window.”
If you’re trying to compare Palin’s inexperience with Obama’s inexperience, Palin’s not running for President.
Hopefully, given a choice of electing a President with more experience and a VP with less experience as opposed to a President with less experience and a VP with more experience, one would choose a President with more experience. Or were you just thinking that inexperience was inexperience and it didn’t matter if it was the President or VP? (scratches head)
Ther person in the number 1 seat needs to have the more experience.
- Posted by MajorTomThis seems to be an attempt by McCain to steal some of Obama’s ‘progressive’ sheen, and possibly even to court the youth vote (the vast majority of which seems to be swinging in Obama’s favour). Palin is a bold choice on many levels. There was some bitterness that a man was nominated over a woman who, for a long time, looked as though she would receive a coronation. Perhaps McCain is capitalising on this underlying sentiment, though after the bridges mended at the Democratic conference this week it may be too late for that. I have a feeling that Palin might give McCain’s campaign the ‘X Factor’ that it was severely lacking in comparison to his opponant. Shrewdly, he’s also back to being the underdog (seemingly a position of strength in this election) by choosing someone so utterly untested in international politics as his running mate. It’s a gamble, but perhaps not as risky as some may think! Though of course I could be wrong and it might just be a very cynical move to grab estranged Hilary voters after all.
Why do you all have to be aggressive with one another? Both the leading candidates are, in their own way, remarkable men who want change in Washington. Win win for all of you Americans I’d say– better than the stultifying choice we Brits face at our next election!
- Posted by Mike MShe’s been on the short list for MONTHS to those who have bothered to pay attention … she’s at least as experienced as Obama, in touch and relatable - not some Harvard intellectual, AWESOME PICK!
- Posted by sbI’m not a fan of McCain, but given the libs’ responses to the announcement posted here, I’d say McCain hit a home run in the naming of Sarah Palin. It’s clear–they fear the HOCKEY MOM!
- Posted by zebThe choice of Sarah Palin as the McCain running mate is a weak attempt to secure both Hillary supporters, and social conservatives, in one swoop.
I believe that the social conservatives may take the bait. McCain’s problem is that Sarah Palin is NOT Hillary Clinton; her inexperience and her corruption probe will make her more of a liability than a ticket to the Oval Office.
- Posted by BadgerbayRe:McCain & Palin Ticket
You can’t dress the emperor up in new clothes because beneath the ground he has buried an old bone.
Sarah Palin indeed is just the canditate for any political ticket. She is ripe with the vigor and enthusiasm needed to repair an ailing nation. She has honed her intelligence and integrity mixed with social values to already prove a track record of experience and merit. But to drape her badge of honour like a pin of mutual agreement on John Mccain is insincere.
John Mccain is a relic of a past age of politics whose time has come to stand aside and let the people of United States of America lead with their convictions to elect Barak Obama as the next president to lead the country.
When the people speak and their voice is counted there will be a new hope birthed into America. The change created by a dream begins with a thought in the heart that can imagine creation. You as a Nation are about to deliver a new tomorrow with President Barak Obama.
- Posted by Mary RobertsonMary Robertson
Vancouver BC
I quite agree with jvill.
She has a personnell scandal investigation lingering and …
… can u really see her coming from a little Alaskan village to VP in the White House?
Why McCain did not do a background check on her? Are any other clean picks around?
- Posted by Rob