Good choice?

[sleigh]

The McCain campaign has evidently acknowledged that McCain's VP choice is Gov. Sarah Palin of Alaska. Overall, I'd have to say she's a good choice for McCain. She's known as a reformer who has fought to reform the political abuses in her state, even those of her own party. She's young, thus somewhat negating the "McCain's too old" worries. She's female, an obvious attempt to court some of the Hillary supporters who said they'd vote for McCain. She's pro-life and staunchly conservative, so the Republican right-wing base will be happy.

She does, however, blunt much of the recent McCain campaign strategy of hammering Obama for his "inexperience" and that he's "not ready to lead." Palin has less of a pedigree on the national stage than Obama -- so if he's not ready to lead, neither is she. If he's inexperienced, she's even more so.

She's also currently involved in an ethic scandal investigation herself in Alaska (though, in fairness, from what I've read it appears that this may well be 'payback' for her aggressiveness in her own reform efforts.)

It will remain to be seen how this plays out, and whether it helps, hurts, or makes no difference at all. But -- I'd say McCain has made a better choice for himself than the 'frontrunners' all the pundits were touting.

What do you think?

Comments

[tshaile.livejournal.com]

I think it will tweak his committed voter base the wrong way, but probably not enough to drive many of them away. I also think it may look good at first but may hurt him as the campaign continues - if her inexperience results in gaffes on the campaign trail. I also think it is a choice driven by the need to capture voters even more than usual. If voters come to see the choice that way, instead of giving serious and measured consideration to the idea of Palin as president, it will reflect poorly on McCain's judgement and ability to lead.