bostonpatriot

John McCain has chosen Governor Sarah Palin of Alaska as his running mate. Much speculation, including on this website, has been over the choice of VP and what that would mean for the presidential race. Clearly the race for the Whitehouse restarts today with candidates on both side that represent the diversity of American identity and offer exciting choices for many that have felt un or underrepresented in Washington Politics.

Sarah Palin has seen a meteoric rise in politics every bit as remarkable as Barrack Obama’s. At 44, Sarah Palin has been governor for two years after being elected in 2006. She is known in Alaska politics for taking on the good old boy network of political corruption. Notably, taking on the chairman of her own Republican party over ethical violations. At over 90%, she has one of the highest favorability ratings of any state Governor.

Democrats have immediately seized upon her lack of experience in foreign affairs as invalidating the criticisms of Barrack Obama’s own lack of Foreign affairs experience. Republicans have hailed the pick of a Conservative pro-life mother of 5 children who is likely to help invigorate McCain’s campaign among conservative republicans and younger voters. While criticism of Barrack Obama’s experience might now have to be muted on the Republican side, Obama also risks alienating some women voters if his surrogates seek to belittle Governor Palin’s experience and aptitude.

Either way, the move is widely being hailed as a bold choice and will certainly cement John McCain’s old “maverick” independent image going into this election.