The New York Times is reporting that Senator John McCain will choose Alaska Governor Sarah Palin to be his running mate, making her only the second woman to be nominated for Vice President of the United States of America (Democrat Walter Mondale chose Geraldine Ferraro to be his running mate back in 1984, she was the first):
Senator John McCain chose Gov. Sarah Palin of Alaska as his running mate on Friday, shaking up the political world with a surprise pick at a time when his campaign has been trying to attract women, especially disaffected supporters of Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton. In choosing Ms. Palin — a 44-year-old conservative Christian and self-described “hockey mom” who has been governor for less than two years — the McCain campaign reached far outside the Beltway in an election where the Democratic nominee, Senator Barack Obama, is running on a platform of change. The pick, confirmed by Republicans familiar with the decision, amounted to a roll of the dice, a gamble that an infusion of new leadership — and the novelty of the Republican party’s first female candidate for vice president — would more than compensate for the risk that Ms. Palin could undercut one of the McCain campaign’s central arguments, their claim that Mr. Obama is too inexperienced to be president. But Ms. Palin ran as a change agent when she was elected as governor of Alaska in 2006, and in a move that might have appealed to Mr. McCain, she took political heat from members of her own party for turning the spotlight on the failures of Alaska Republicans, some of whom had been beset by corruption scandals. She opposes abortion rights, which could help pacify social conservatives who were wary as rumors swirled that Mr. McCain might pick a running mate who supports them. But she differs with Mr. McCain on a controversial environment issue that centers on her home state: she supports drilling for oil in the Arctic National Wildlife Reserve. Mr. McCain’s opposition to drilling — even after he changed positions and began advocating for off-shore oil drilling — has upset many Republicans. The choice of Ms. Palin was a closely guarded secret, and she flew under the political radar for months as Mr. McCain conducted his search for a running mate. Much of the public discussion in recent days had focused on Mitt Romney, the former Massachusetts governor and Mr. McCain’s one-time rival for the Republican nomination; Gov. Tim Pawlenty of Minnesota; Tom Ridge, the former Homeland Security secretary, and Senator Joseph I. Lieberman of Connecticut, the Democrat-turned-independent who was Al Gore’s running mate in 2000.
I gotta say, this choice was well-played by McCain. It’s a risky move, especially considering that he and she don’t have much in common. I was sure that McCain was going to pick either the turncoat Joseph Lieberman or the extremely scary Mitt Romney. I guess McCain felt that he needed to choose a running mate with a gimmick to try and bolster support for his campaign — a Pro-Life soccer mom who supports oil drilling in Alaska (one of our nation’s most valued natural resources), who won her governorship (an office she has held for LESS than 2 years) by denouncing her fellow Republicans (who, in her defense, were corrupt), was nicknamed “Sarah Barracuda” in high school and was first runner-up in the Miss Alaska Beauty Pageant back in 1984, when Geraldine Ferraro was the Vice Presidential nominee for the Democratic Party. Yeah, good luck with that :) This race for the White House just got a wee bit more interesting.
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amen to that. If McCain is elected in November…I fervently hope he’s got a strong ticker and isn’t at risk for alzheimer’s or some other debilitating disease. I don’t give a rat’s rear how great a governor, wife, mom Palin is…I don’t agree with her politics and she just doesn’t have enough experience to be the head of our nation.
This is all pandering to the feminist vote and the disenfranchised Clinton supporters. Just because a candidate has a vagina doesn’t mean that the feminists will vote for her. She opposes same-sex rights and is opposed to abortion in all forms, EVEN IN CASES OF RAPE/INCEST AND WHEN THE MOTHER’S HEALTH IS IN DANGER. Does this sound like someone feminists voters should support?
I vote based on a candidate’s position on the issues, not on their race/gender/sexual orientation/etc. And McCain still isn’t getting my vote!
I must first point out that this is TRENT’s blog and as the author, he can express his opinion how he chooses. That is the beauty of free speech. We, as his faithful readers, also have the choice to agree or disagree with him. We also have the freedom to post whatever replies we want. But, let’s keep all the left and right bashing to a minimum. Ultimately, we all want what is best for the country. We should all put our money where our mouth is and go out there and hit the streets in support of the canditate of our choosing. Now, let’s get on with the celeb gossip. Is Jessica Biel pregnant or not??
No gimmick but a very carefully crafted response to all that McCain is not for conservatives…she is the real deal conservative Christian: still married to her highschool sweetheart, hunter, lifetime NRA member, successful small business owner, anti-abortion to the point of giving birth to a child she knew would have Downs Syndrome, killed pork-barrel projects and saved the state money, against gay marriage. She’s more the real deal than Ronald Reagan ever was — the chica walks her talk in ways that are not easy. She scares me too, but because she’s given the McCain cause a real shot in the arm. Check her Wikipedia entry folks.
I feel insulted that he thinks the only way he can win is by picking a woman. Too add insult to injury he had to pick a woman beneath him — couldn’t he have picked a congress woman.
I think he crapped his pants when he heard Obama’s speech and acted out of desperation.
Just my 2 cents.
“conservative Christian, hunter, lifetime NRA member, anti-abortion, against gay marriage”
all reasons why the Republicans cannot be allowed to govern our nation. palin is proof positive of everything that is wrong with the Republican party
Obama has little experience running his household let alone a country yet you fools are going to vote for him. He had to pick a vp with some knowledge so he can have someone make decisions for him. McCain however chooses a woman and here come the insults of not enough experience, blah blah blah the same thing that is true about Obama but you people have your blinders on and refuse to see past them. How about we all agree to disagree and vote come november for the best candidate to lead the country. I am deffo not voting for obama, I want a woman who sees things the way I do to be the vp.I don’t want this “change” Obama is selling, he can keep it.
finally someone who walks the walk.
pro life… bring a down syndrome child to term
pro war… send your own son
problems with corruption.. buck your own party
brilliant choice
yikes!
brilliant response
Abandoning a 5 month old with Down’s syndrome to run for VP? Reminds me of Edwards with his dying wife, but at least she was complicit. DOESN”T YOUR FAMILY NEED YOU RIGHT NOW? This degree of selfishness is extremely repulsive to me, and I’m the kind of “soccer mom” McCain is trying to attract. I think she was a horrible pick, and can’t be a decent human being based on her “parenting”.
abandon??? how many others would have aborted it..
including I’m ashamed to say, myself
She’s a very conservative, pro-life politician. Did she really have the option of abortion? She went back to work 3 days after delivery. So, yes, abandoned, though the argument could be made that she already has.
i see… quitting a public service position and abandon
the electorate is the moral thing to do.. i guess she should
also give up her paycheck and allow you and me, the
taxpayer, to pay what will ultimately be a huge financial cost
I always wonder why people are so concerned about black, white, brown, yellow, male, or female. Seriously, why does that matter at all? I look at their views, the substance of the person, not their hair color, or their skin color, and certainly not what hangs out between their legs. And anti-gay, anti-choice, pro-war, pro-ANWR oil, pro-guns, BRAND FREAKIN NEW governor is NOT for me. She has even less experience then Obama, and with McCain being soooooo old, having had cancer FOUR TIMES, I’m just not persueded that this woman can lead America in the case of McCain kicking the bucket prematurely. Not to mention she’s being investigated AS WE SPEAK of abusing her power in Alaska. Yes, she seems like SUCH A GREAT CHOICE!! Give me an effin’ break. In the event that Obama dies, I have perfect faith that Joe Biden will do a great job, no question about that. Do your research!! Register to vote! and Vote Wisely!!
typical liberal attitude convict before the evidence is in
and joe biden.. do my research.. if only he did his own he would not now stand exposed as a serial plagiarist.
I think it is an interesting pick. It is odd…especially since the McCain camp has been saying Obama isn’t not experienced enough…yet Palin has only been governor for 2 years. So, I’m not sure. Many seem to think this is McCain’s way of grabbing former Hillary supporters. Some think this is a brilliant choice. Many think it is a gamble and aren’t sure how it’s gonna turn out. I for one am not sure if this was a good pick for McCain…but I don’t know much about her yet. So I need to do some research and I want to hear her speak more before I form an opinion. Although, I already have my mind made up on who I am voting for, and that is Barack Obama. I don’t get why people make such a big deal over race and gender in this election…but apparently it seems like it is playing a big role. I don’t care who you support, I just think you should do some research before you make a decision and get out there and VOTE!!
Well said.
She may not have tons of experience, but neither does Obama. People are all for Obama even with little experience, but attack Palin because she doesn’t have it either? Hurray for hypocrisy.
Please vote Obama. Seriously – this 44 year old with zero experience is one breath away from the presidency if McCain dies off….which is possible. This woman is a gun toting, pro-life, no experienced novice. Think about it. We do not need an old geezer and a nobody in office spewing off 4 more years of crap. Make a difference for you, your loved ones and the world. Vote Obama. Vote for change.