Posted on 08/30/2008 8:41:07 AM PDT by bobsunshine
Sen. John McCain chose first-term Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, little known on the national stage, as his vice-presidential running mate -- a surprise stroke aimed at attracting Hillary Clinton supporters, but which could undercut the campaign's key theme of experience.
Sen. McCain passed over many high-profile, more conventional choices for the job, turning to a woman whose solid conservative positions thrilled the Republican base. Her reputation as a reformer in Alaska dovetails with Sen. McCain's image, too. As a small-town mayor, she took on her own party elders to run for governor in 2006, as an FBI corruption probed rocked the state's political establishment.
But the 44-year-old's thin political résumé also thrilled some Democratic strategists, given Sen. McCain's criticism of the experience of his opponent, Sen. Barack Obama. They were quick to note that Sen. McCain turned 72 Friday and would be the oldest person to enter the White House, yet he is trying to put a heartbeat from the Oval Office a woman who has spent less time in the governors' mansion than Sen. Obama has in the Senate. Just two years ago, she was mayor of Wasilla, a town of 9,780 people.
(snip)
The McCain campaign professed no concern about Gov. Palin's experience. Senior strategist Steve Schmidt said she is "one of the most exceptional governors in the country" with reform credentials that fit perfectly with Sen. McCain's message. "We are happy to have that debate with the Obama campaign and we'll win the argument with the American people," Mr. Schmidt said. "By any objective measure, Gov. Palin is more qualified for the presidency than Barack Obama."
(Excerpt) Read more at online.wsj.com ...
I don't think that was the main objective. I think that McCain needed to energize the conservative base and he's done that.
The Left has gone psychotic over Palin, heaping foul language and false charges upon her for “daring to ursurp Hillary’s place in history.” In my experience, the louder they shriek and the fouler the language, the better we are doing. LOL!
Exactly. I tuned into MSNBC to get some idea of how the pick was. MSNBC managed to be even more looney than normal so I knew the left was scared.
McCain needed to energize the conservative base=FAIL
I agree. I think that McCain was targeting conservatives, but I’d also include undecideds and moderate women.
Steve Schmidt, YOU MAGNIFICENT BASTARD!
What are her views on illegal immigration?
Isn't it just a little garish, the Democrat obsession with the idea of McCain dying in office? I think this Democrat meme of "70+ years old is as good as dead" may push a lot of senior voters into the McCain fold.
With this pick I may just donate a few buck to McCain’s campaign. I want to see a debate between Palin and Biden. She’ll make mince meat out of him.
One of the lunatic fringe’s claims is that Sarah’s Down’s Syndrome baby is not hers but instead her 16-year-old daughter’s.
They will truly say anything.
McCain likes her maverick style. And, based on her debut performance, she seems to have the substance to back up the style.
Come on ovoer, ladies and gents!
... a woman who has spent less time in the governors' mansion than Sen. Obama has in the Senate.Oh Yeah.
Sooooooooo, anyone up for comparing Time Cards?
(1) In case Barry is lurking; 'The Senate' is in that big building in DC with a dome on top. And Barry, you can find it on Google Maps, even with directions on how to get there. (just a hat tip Barry, as I know you haven't been there - in that Senate thingy - in quite a while)
The left also knows that Biden as Obama’s choice was a throw-away (anybody who is not Hillary).
Let’s not forget that the WSJ has always been divided between the conservative editorial pages and the left wing news pages.
This reads like typical left wing drivel from the news pages.
Also, while the editorial pages are generally conservative economically, they are NOT conservative on the right to life or the question of unlimited illegal labor or export of jobs, or freedom of religion, or a number of other basic issues.
Sarah Palin is not the kind of feminist these leftist ladies would understand.
Clinton is going to have to make her move now, rather than wait until 2012. Watch for her camp to pull out all the stops against Hussein NOW. Either his physical or political demise.
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