Valley Reacts to McCain's Historic V.P. Choice

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Posted: 11:11 PM Aug 29, 2008
Last Updated: 2:34 PM Sep 1, 2008
Reporter: Mary Pulley
Email Address: mpulley@whsv.com

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History is made once again in the 2008 Presidential Race Friday, as Republican John McCain announces Sarah Palin as his choice for vice president.

Palin is the current governor of Alaska, and she will be the first woman to be nominated for vice president as a Republican, as well as the second to run for vice president on a major party ticket.

Palin's unexpected selection is getting a lot of attention from both sides of the political aisle.

John McCain describes his new running mate as someone who can help him shake up Washington, and people around the nation, including in the Valley, are showing their support for a McCain-Palin ticket.

"Proven to be on the forefront of reforming Alaska's government and fighting corruption within her own party which I think is important," says Virginia's McCain campaign co-chair, Del. Chris Saxman, who also says he thinks Palin will be popular among women voters.

"We'll I've already had a number of phone calls and emails from women across the country who are just ecstatic with the thought that they'll be able to vote for someone on the Republican ticket with the qualities Sarah Palin brings," says Saxman.

However, some wonder if this one term governor and former mayor, who seemed to come out of nowhere, has enough experience be McCains vice president.

"He's loosing the Obama's not experienced role that he's placed Obama in, in many of his ads. His vice president is even less experienced than Obama," says Dr. David McQuilkin, a political science and history professor at Bridgewater College.

McQuilkin also says he doesn't feel Palin has anything to offer the McCain campaign at this point, and that his decision to choose her is an attempt to gain votes from Clinton supporters, which McQuilkin says won't work.

"She's supposedly a strong social conservative, but he's trying to get the independent women, and I'm not sure that this is going to help him," says McQuilkin.

This weekend, Palin and McCain are expected to make stops in a number of battleground states including Ohio and Pennsylvania.

The first woman to be nominated as vice president was Geraldine Ferraro. She was on the 1984 democratic ticket with Walter Mondale.

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Comments are posted from viewers like you and do not always reflect the views of this station.

Posted by: deni269 Location: harrisonburg on Sep 1, 2008 at 05:47 PM
i hope, if she is elected, tghat the families plan to move to washington to help out with the children. it's a far cry from leaving "nearby" when you move to washington. i am still thinking of the children. it's a lot on one parent to have 5 children to look after by themselves. she is going to be busy with executive branch decisions and other such matters.

Posted by: April Location: Stanley on Aug 31, 2008 at 09:29 AM
After seeing how the "experienced" ones in Washington have run this country, I find it refreshing to have fresh blood in Washington. This country is suppose to be for the people, of the people, by the people, that hasn't been the case in many, many years. To many in Washington forget why they were elected, they don't care about the average American trying to survive with the economical and other issues we've all been inflected with. I also find it upsetting that because she is a woman, she is being criticized for having a career, not staying home to be a homemaker. Her husband is supportive and there for her. I guess as a women, we really haven't made much progress if this is the case. I like that she is feisty, I like that she doesn't play by the good old boys system. She is someone who truly cares about this country, not someone with just a political agenda. They will try to discredit her, they will bash her, put her down, tell half truths, lies, but I think she is just what we need.

Posted by: Diane Location: Swoope on Aug 31, 2008 at 07:18 AM
Her husband, Todd, will be caring for the children at home. His parents live near-by and are supportive as is Sara's family.

Posted by: deni269 Location: harriosnburg on Aug 30, 2008 at 07:12 PM
I wonder who will care for the Down's Syndrome" child if elected and I can't imagine she has enough experience to deal with the nation's problems, if needed. I like her and a lot of what she stands for and her "maverick" staus, but the child is not being considered, I am afraid. Maybe in a couple of years, when they know what kinds of disabilities that the child may or may not be facing. That is more than I would think anyone could have to deal with at one time.

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