I think it was a great choice as well. She will definitely swing some of the disgruntled Hillary lovers over to the good side. Her background indicates that she will hopefully sway some of the labor, minority, and the responsible environmental groups.
A bit interesting that being from Alaska likely will not a very large affect on the electoral vote. I think Pawlenty would have been a better choice in that regard by possibly winning Minnesota and Wisconsin.
I honestly do not know much about her so her diplomatic and debating skills will definitely come into play.

Go John!!! Another excellent example of poor judgement.

That's one good thing I can say about this election, some of the predudice are going to have to bend one way or another. And good for the parties to open up and get these guys running. I'm not a Barak fan, but to see a black guy running for office and then to have a woman as a VP on the Rep ticket means we are making strides. Either way, it's going in the right direction from that outlook.

Why? Because she is a woman?

Her and Hillary don't seem to agree on much. I would like to think the Hillary supporters support her for something other than having girl parts.

dude, as regrettable as it is, there are a fair number of voters in this country that will qualify indoor vs. outdoor plumbing as a deciding factor.

Whereas I do lean rather far to to the right, I'm equal-opportunity. I think they're all idiots, but I've got until November to make up my mind who's the best idiot for the job.

Ya your right sand! Its Good for the country and our outlook,Obama kinda back doored in no one thought it would happen,then my guess is McCain was a bit forced to go to Palin to off set the inequality choices.

Why Palin's at the podium, Pawlenty's on the bench
She has a greater reputation for reform and conservatism — and plenty of human interest
By Rachel E. Stassen-Berger and Bill Salisbury
Pioneer Press
Article Last Updated: 09/04/2008 12:52:46 AM CDT


Minnesota Goovernor Tim Pawlenty and his Wife Mary share a laugh at the Republican National Convention on Wednesday September 3, 2008 in Saint Paul. (Pioneer Press: Scott Takushi) It could have been Tim Pawlenty.

The Minnesota governor could have been the one walking the stage Wednesday at the Republican National Convention, surrounded by his smiling family, accepting the cheers of the crowd after he talked to the nation about his pride at being named John McCain's vice presidential pick.

Instead, McCain's actual pick — first-term Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin — took that walk.

"I accept the call to help our nominee for president to serve and defend America," she said in one of the convention's most anticipated speeches.

It almost was Pawlenty accepting that call, according to reports.

The McCain campaign asked him for more details about his background as late as Thursday night, the night the Arizona senator met with Palin and made his decision.

In Palin, there are shades of Pawlenty: Both are socially conservative; both are youthful governors of small states; both could be considered reformers; and both have an affable charm.

So, why Palin and not Pawlenty?

Only McCain knows for sure, and he isn't talking.

But veteran political observers see several reasons for his pick:

Palin has a personal story Pawlenty just can't match.

"Folks can wrap their arms around Sarah much more than they could around Tim," said Scott Fischbach, executive director of the state's largest anti-abortion organization, Minnesota Citizens Concerned for Life. Palin gave birth to a baby with Down syndrome and has a pregnant

17-year-old unmarried daughter who decided to continue her pregnancy.
The news of her daughter's pregnancy, disclosed Monday, has provoked a mixed response with strong emotions on both sides, but to Fischbach and other anti-abortion activists, it is a definite plus.

"I think there's a lot of legitimacy when she says she's pro-life," Fischbach said.

While Pawlenty is a solid conservative, Palin "energizes the conservative base in a way he doesn't," said public relations executive Tom Horner, a veteran Republican strategist. He said she's much more outspoken on hot-button social issues.

Horner also suspects McCain wanted to reinforce his maverick, reformer image. While Pawlenty has pushed through some reforms in Minnesota, "Palin took on the Alaska Republican establishment and won," he said. "That's an easier story to tell."

Both Palin and Pawlenty are relative unknowns on the national stage, although many in the national political class got to know the Minnesota governor in the past several months as he was mentioned as a potential pick. The Alaska governor was less frequently mentioned as a prospect.

"If you're going to pick an unknown, you go with a surprising choice" that will be catapulted into widespread recognition, Horner said, and picking a woman was a surprise.

But the McCain campaign insists he didn't choose Palin because she's a woman.

"Gender really didn't come into any of the equation of picking the candidate, certainly from my perspective and the conversations I had with Senator McCain," McCain campaign manager Rick Davis said Wednesday.

Palin also is making the covers of the celebrity magazines and is a hotter topic on the television talk shows than a male candidate could expect to be.

At the same time, the McCain campaign remains high on Pawlenty.

"Obviously, Governor Pawlenty is a huge ally of John McCain's, a good friend," Davis said. "He was with us in the darkest hours of our campaign, never flinched, never wavered and really has been one of our great allies in this comeback that is so historic in proportion.

"But look, Governor Palin offers a different set of credentials. She impressed the senator with her tenacity and focus on reform, has great experience in the field of energy, which is obviously one of the most important issues going forward in this election."

If Pawlenty is disappointed that he wasn't picked, he isn't letting on. On Tuesday, he told reporters he feels honored to have been considered, and he pledged to continue campaigning hard for McCain. He and first lady Mary Pawlenty watched the speeches from the VIP box where former President George H.W. Bush sat Tuesday.

"Just know that Governor Pawlenty continues to be an important resource for our campaign," Davis said. "He's an important advisor for the senator and great friend to the senator."

And what is in Pawlenty's political future?

Pawlenty has said he hasn't decided what he'll do next. He said he would decide next year whether to run for a third term in 2010.

His friends say he has lots of options beyond the governorship.

"He's got a very bright future. He is young; he's got 20 years of public service in front of him," said Minnesota Business Partnership Executive Director Charlie Weaver, Pawlenty's long-time friend and former chief of staff.

The fact that he was a finalist for VP and was one of McCain's most visible surrogates in recent months has made him a B-list celebrity. Passers-by probably wouldn't stop him on the streets of New York City or Los Angeles, but he certainly is now well-known among national political operatives, journalists and campaign funders.

"I really think that he believes this is a great opportunity," Weaver said, referring to the governor's travels and national exposure.

The McCain campaign plans to use him more.

"I think you will see him traveling a lot through the course of this campaign ... because he has been very, very well received by voters," Davis said.

Pawlenty enhanced his national reputation this week during the convention by doing interviews with CBS, Fox News, MSNBC, Newsweek and the Washington Post. But he's been so busy talking to the national media that he's been inaccessible and often secretive with his home state media.

Friends say Pawlenty has positioned himself to be a possible contender for president or vice president in 2012. As a loyal McCain campaigner, he probably would be in line for a Cabinet position should the Republican win the presidency.

But close advisers doubt he'd be interested in running a federal agency. "He loves being governor," one said, and he'd view managing an agency as a step down.

Pawlenty's national exposure has made him an even bigger celebrity in Minnesota, said House Republican Leader Marty Seifert, of Marshall.

"His star is rising. There's nowhere for him to go but up," Seifert said.

The governor draws huge crowds and raises big bucks for Republican House candidates, he said. "We're absolutely ecstatic that we get to keep him here in Minnesota."