Grayson sees Palin giving ticket appeal to some Clinton voters
By Trey Pollard, PolitickerKY.com ReporterDENVER -- In Minnesota for next week’s Republican National Convention, Secretary of State Trey Grayson (R-Richwood) told PolitickerKY.com that many of his colleagues expected a different pick for U.S. Sen. Jon McCain’s (R-Ariz.) presidential ticket.
“Most people up here thought it would be Romney or Pawlenty,” said Grayson, referring to two oft-rumored names: former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney and Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty.
Still, Grayson said Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin – McCain’s actual pick – was in the “top five” and not a “total surprise.”
Grayson sees the McCain-Palin ticket appealing to many in Kentucky – a state which heavily favored U.S. Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-N.Y.) over the eventual Democratic presidential nominee, U.S. Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) in the May primary. The second-term secretary of state argued many disaffected Clinton supporters could be attracted to McCain’s bid with the addition of Palin.
“I can’t help but think it’ll cause them to look at a McCain-Palin ticket,” said Grayson. “They were excited about having a woman president; maybe they will be excited about having a woman vice president.”
“It certainly won’t have people turning against the ticket,” added Grayson. “It will attract more votes from women.”
Palin is the second woman to be added as a major party’s vice presidential candidate. The first was U.S. Rep. Geraldine Ferraro (D-N.Y.), who was picked by Walter Mondale in 1984.
This pick, according to Grayson, is more significant as the McCain ticket has the “most realistic possibility” for a female vice president to be elected.
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Palin might be a good Energy Choice ...
Palin's knowledge and experience of Alaska issue may help McCain sell drill in Anwar movement. With her 60+% approval rating this might be a slam dunk for McCain to accomplish this in his first term.
If Palin can prove herself in Alaska then the door is wide open for her to work with FL governor to drill off shore and even off the shores of NC and SC. This would go a long way towards reducing gas prices and help boost the economy.
Palin has proven herself as a strong fighter against corruption. So this too is a big plus when we have been repeatedly haunted over the last 20 years by one corruption after another. Having someone cleanup Washington the way she cleaned up Alaska (even against members of her own party) may be the true "change" we need.
The jury is still out if Hillary voters move towards the McCain camp.
-DD
Wise choice?
This may be a smart political move, if McCain's only goal is siphoning off dissatisfied Clinton supporters. However, it opens the campaign up to the same charges that he's leveled against Obama - lack of experience. Which, by the way, is relevant because of McCain's age.
Sarah Palin's only experience is serving two years as the governor of Alaska. Before that, she was the mayor of Wasilla (pop. 8500) and city council member, also for Wasilla.
Of course, McCain has been known to push the lines of appropriate relationships with colleagues, so maybe this is a "Vice-President with benefits" position.
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