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More from McCain's Dayton visit and VP announcement:
> McCain's VP pick wows local crowd
> Senator's pick known as maverick
> Nutter crowd greets Palin with enthusiasm
> Ohio Republicans voice support
> Photos: McCain's visit | Gov. Sarah Palin | Spotted at the Nutter
> Videos: Palin's speech | Nutter Center rally
> More election coverage
Saturday, August 30, 2008
WASHINGTON — Conservatives gushed over Sen. John McCain's choice of Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin for his running mate Friday, Aug. 29, saying McCain's surprise pick reinvigorated his party in the days leading up to the Republican National Convention.
They praised Palin as a social conservative, a lifelong member of the National Rifle Association who would make history were she to become the first female vice president of the United States.
"She's rock solid across the board," said U.S. Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Urbana, speaking from the Nutter Center minutes before McCain formally introduced Palin to the crowd. "She understands life is sacred and should be protected. She understands the Second Amendment is right next to the First."
Jordan met Palin on a recent trip to Alaska with House Minority Leader John Boehner, R-West Chester, when Palin had dinner with Jordan, Boehner and other lawmakers visiting the state. "She struck me as a very delightful individual, just a really nice person," Jordan said.
For his part, Boehner also was full of praise, calling Palin "a popular and proven reformer with a record of accomplishment and real executive experience."
"The McCain-Palin ticket has the experience to lead the effort to fix a broken Washington," Boehner said. "This is the ticket that is ready to lead."
Sen. George Voinovich, R-Ohio, also met Palin recently, at a meeting in Philadelphia. He came away impressed with "her poise and intellect."
"Gov. Palin has executive experience as a mayor and governor and is a strong proponent of life and family," he said. "We don't have enough people in Washington who understand the importance of local and state government."
Political analyst Chris Duncan of the University of Dayton called the pick "a swing for the fences."
"The upside for John McCain is it creates an opportunity for a historic ballot on either side," he said.
Democrats, meanwhile, were unimpressed, and immediately began hammering Palin for a lack of experience — the same criticism Republicans have leveled at Obama.
"Is this really who the Republican Party wants to be one heartbeat away from the presidency?" asked House Democratic Caucus Chairman Rahm Emanuel. "Given Sarah Palin's lack of experience on every front and on nearly every issue, this vice presidential pick doesn't show judgment: it shows political panic."
Sharen Neuhardt, D-Miami Twp., who is running for Ohio's 7th Congressional District, noted that it took the Republicans more than 20 years to follow the Democrats' lead and put a woman on the presidential ticket. In 1984, Democrat Walter Mondale picked Geraldine Ferraro as his running mate.
"Gov. Palin lacks the experience that Sen. McCain says a president needs," Neuhardt said. "This pick had nothing to do with being qualified to step into the presidency. It had everything to do with the dim political outlook for John McCain's campaign."
