Alaska Governor Palin is McCain's pick
By Michael Kranish, Globe Staff
DAYTON, Ohio -- Alaska Governor Sarah Palin, a dark horse candidate with little national prominence, is Republican John McCain's choice as his running mate.
"I have found the right partner," McCain told a flag-waving, cheering crowd inside the Nutter Center at Wright State University, making what he called a "historic announcement."
He said he had spent the last few months looking for a running mate who could best help him "shake up Washington to make it work again."
"I had many good people to choose from, all of them dedicated to this country," he said. "I could only choose one."
McCain described Palin as "someone with an outstanding reputation of standing up aginst special interests," "great tenacity and skill tacking tough problems especially our dependence on foregn oil," with "a fighting spirit and deep compassion," who "grew up in a decent and hardworking middle class family."
"She's not from these parts and she's not from Washington," McCain added. "You're going to be as impressed as I am."
"I am honored to be chosen as your running mate," Palin said. "I'Il be honored to serve next to the next president of the United States."
She introduced her husband Todd on their 20th wedding anniversary, and four of their children, including the new baby boy. The fifth enlisted in the US Army last Sept. 11 and is to be deployed to Iraq, she said.
"USA, USA," the crowd chanted, as Palin pumped her fist.
"Some of life's greatest opportunities come unexpectedly," said Palin, describing herself as "just your average hockey mom in Alaska."
She told the crowd of her career in public office, starting as a mayor, then a state ethics commission, and now governor.
"As governor I've stood up to the old politics as usual," she said, citing her record in office, including passing ethics reform and returning oil revenues to Alaska taxpayers.
"It's safer in politics to avoid risk," she said about her career, though she could have easily been talking about her own selection. "A ship in harbor is safe, but that's not why a ship is built."
Palin then launched into a tribute to McCain and his record. "To serve as vice president under such a man would be a privilege of a lifetime," she said.
Palin mentioned the 88th anniversary of women's suffrage this week, then honored Ferraro and Hillary Clinton, who she said "showed such determination and grace in her presidential campaign."
She directly appealed for the support of female voters, though unlike many of them, she opposes abortion rights. Palin said it was right for Democrats to pay tribute to the 18 million votes Clinton received -- 18 million cracks in the highest, hardest glass ceiling, as Clinton said.
"It turns out the women of America aren't finished yet and we can shatter that glass ceiling once and for all," Palin said.
UPDATE: Clinton issued this statement: “We should all be proud of Governor Sarah Palin's historic nomination, and I congratulate her and Senator McCain. While their policies would take America in the wrong direction, Governor Palin will add an important new voice to the debate.”
Palin, a 44-year-old mother of five, including a 4-month-old with Down's syndrome, was elected governor in 2006 as a political reformer. She is the second woman on a major party presidential ticket, after Democrat Geraldine Ferraro in 1984.
Popular with GOP conservatives, Palin's intensity is legendary, earning her the nickname "Sarah Barracuda" as a high school basketball player.
McCain passed over contenders with more experience and who have been far more active in campaigning for him so far, including former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney, Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty, former Pennsylvania Governor Tom Ridge and Senator Joseph Lieberman of Connecticut.
Romney issued a statement through his political action committee: “Governor Palin's story is one that all Americans will find inspiring. She's a Washington outsider with a commitment to the conservative principles that will make our nation stronger. I look forward to campaigning for Senator McCain, Governor Palin and Republicans all across the country.”
Palin is an unorthodox selection, but could help McCain reach out to women, especially disaffected Democrats who supported Hillary Clinton. But she could be vulnerable to Democratic criticism that she is not ready to be president, a particular concern when McCain turns 72 today and would be the oldest person elected to a first term as president.
Another potential problem for Palin is that there is an investigation underway in Alaska about whether she abused her power by firing the state's public safety commissioner. The inquiry is focusing on whether Palin retaliated against the official because he refused to fire a state trooper who went through a contentious divorce with Palin's sister.
The McCain campaign issued a statement: "Governor Palin is a tough executive who has demonstrated during her time in office that she is ready to be president. She has brought Republicans and Democrats together within her Administration and has a record of delivering on the change and reform that we need in Washington.
"Governor Palin has challenged the influence of the big oil companies while fighting for the development of new energy resources. She leads a state that matters to every one of us -- Alaska has significant energy resources and she has been a leader in the fight to make America energy independent.
"In Alaska, Governor Palin challenged a corrupt system and passed a landmark ethics reform bill. She has actually used her veto and cut budgetary spending. She put a stop to the "bridge to nowhere" that would have cost taxpayers $400 million.
"As the head of Alaska's National Guard and as the mother of a soldier herself, Governor Palin understands what it takes to lead our nation and she understands the importance of supporting our troops.
"Governor Palin has the record of reform and bipartisanship that others can only speak of. Her experience in shaking up the status quo is exactly what is needed in Washington today. "
Barack Obama's campaign was predictably unimpressed. "Today, John McCain put the former mayor of a town of 9,000 with zero foreign policy experience a heartbeat away from the presidency. Governor Palin shares John McCain's commitment to overturning Roe v. Wade, the agenda of Big Oil and continuing George Bush's failed economic policies -- that's not the change we need, it's just more of the same," spokesman Bill Burton said in a statement.
Jill Hazelbaker, McCain's communications director, responded to the Obama campaign's criticism: “It is pretty audacious for the Obama campaign to say that Governor Palin is not qualified to be Vice President. She has a record of accomplishment that Senator Obama simply cannot match. Governor Palin has spent her time in office shaking up government in Alaska and actually achieving results -- whether it’s taking on corruption, passing ethics reform or stopping wasteful spending and the ‘bridge to nowhere.’ Senator Obama has spent his time in office running for President.”
But later, Obama and Biden issued a nicer statement: "We send our congratulations to Governor Sarah Palin and her family on her designation as the republican nominee for Vice President. It is yet another encouraging sign that old barriers are falling in our politics. While we obviously have differences over how best to lead this country forward Governor Palin is an admirable person and will add a compelling new voice to this campaign.”
Dana Perino told reporters at the White House that President Bush "is energized and excited by this choice."
Bush said it was a "very strong" pick, wished her good luck, and was looking forward to victory in November, Perino said.
Abortion rights groups are already criticizing Palin. Ellen Malcolm, president of EMILY's list, a political action committee that supports abortion rights, said in a statement: “How ironic that, on his 72nd birthday, McCain has raised the question of whether his running mate is prepared to be Commander in Chief and lead the country. Governor Palin and John McCain are a good match because they both want to overturn Roe V. Wade, they both want to continue the failed economic policies of the Bush administration and they both offer more of the same that has led this country down the wrong path. McCain clearly sees the power of women voters in this election but has just as clearly failed to support any of the issues that they care about. His choice for vice president only reinforces that failure.”
Romney's former spokesman, Kevin Madden, said that Palin is an "unconventional pick."
“John McCain is trying to make a play for the independent voters; he’s showing his maverick streak," Madden said on Fox News Channel. "He’s also showing that at his core he is a reformer....The McCain campaign [is] going to make a very strong concerted push to attract women voters.”
"It's a breath of fresh air," Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison of Texas said on CNN of the Palin selection. "We'll all learn a lot about her. I'm sure she'll be a fabulous campaigner."
Hutchison said that Palin is "clearly smart," and while she might not have the foreign policy experience of Democratic vice presidential nominee Joe Biden, would "appeal to regular folks."
"They want to shake things up," Hutchison said of the pick. "They want to challenge the Obama campaign's 'change' mantra."
In June, CNN asked Palin about speculation about her as a veep possibility. "It seems so out of the realm of possibility. I feel like I don’t even have to answer your question. At some point in my life, I would like to have an opportunity if it’s handed to me to serve on a national level," she said then. "But I don’t think it’s going to happen on this go around.”
She did say, however, that McCain should pick a governor. "I do think there needs to be a governor on the ticket. A governor on the front line, administering bureaucracy and setting good policy for the people for whom they are serving. They know how to run government
About Political Intelligence
Glen Johnson is Politics Editor at boston.com and lead blogger for "Political Intelligence." He moved to Massachusetts in the fourth grade, and has covered local, state, and national politics for over 25 years. E-mail him at johnson@globe.com. Follow him on Twitter @globeglen. |
