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Palin Is Risky Gamble for McCain

Alaska gov. helps with women, conservatives, but lacks experience

By Kevin Spak,  Newser Staff

Posted Aug 29, 2008 11:22 AM CDT

(Newser) – Sarah Palin is an unconventional vice presidential pick for John McCain, the Wall Street Journal notes. Her selection seems like the latest ploy to lure Hillary Clinton supporters to the Republican ticket, while simultaneously appeasing McCain’s conservative base and burnishing his reformer credentials. But Palin also lacks experience, undermining one of McCain’s main criticisms of Democratic nominee Barack Obama.

Palin is popular in Alaska—one pollster dubbed her “Saint Sarah”—thanks to her reformer image. But even there, her lack of experience has been an issue. One Democratic activist joked that Palin has foreign-policy experience “because she’s been fishing in Canada.” Palin is also a strict social conservative, a salve for far-right observers who feared McCain would pick a pro-choice running mate.

At 42, Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin is 30 years younger than running mate John McCain %u2014 and younger than Democratic nominee Barack Obama.
At 42, Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin is 30 years younger than running mate John McCain %u2014 and younger than Democratic nominee Barack Obama.   (AP Photo)
Gove. Palin is a terrific contrast to the all Washington ticket of Obama-Biden. She is a wonderful contrast to Biden, and a truly outside-the-Beltway pick, one Republican strategist said.
"Gove. Palin is a terrific contrast to the all Washington ticket of Obama-Biden. She is a wonderful contrast to Biden, and a truly outside-the-Beltway pick," one Republican strategist said.   (AP Photo)
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Sarah is a small town mayor running Alaska as if it's a small town. McCain is out of his mind.
- Frank Smith, Alaskan Democratic activist

People see her as the symbol of purity in an atmosphere of corruption. She's more like Saint Sarah. - Marc Hellenthal, Anchorage pollster

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