Palin's age, inexperience may undercut best Republican attack on Obama
Published Friday August 29th, 2008
DENVER - John McCain's risky choice of Gov. Sarah Palin gives him a running mate who doubles down on his maverick image, may appeal to "hockey moms" and other women, and counters Barack Obama's aura of new-generation change.
But the Republican presidential hopeful may have undercut his best attack on the Democrat.
If Obama is an inexperienced empty suit, as McCain has suggested, is Palin suited for the Oval Office herself?
She is younger and less experienced than the first-term Illinois senator, and also brings an ethical shadow to the ticket.
A governor for just 20 months, she was previously a two-term mayor of Wasilla, Alaska, a town of 6,500 where the biggest issue is controlling growth and the biggest civic worry is whether there will be enough snow for the Iditarod sled dog race.
"On his 72nd birthday, is this really the one-heartbeat-away he wants to put in the White House?" said Representative Rahm Emanuel, the No. 3 Democrat in the House. "What does this say about his judgment?"
To supporters, it says McCain wanted to add a reform-minded politician to his ticket, and an abortion opponent to boot. It also says he needs more women to back him over Obama, who just welcomed a passel of Hillary Clinton voters into his fold but remains shaky with white males.
A suburban mother and PTA member who described her fisherman husband as a proud union member and "champion snow machine racer," Palin brings to the ticket the blue-collar, everyday-American qualities that Senator Joe Biden brought last week to Obama's ticket - with a distinctively Alaskan twist.
The pick earned McCain praise Friday from evangelicals and other social conservatives who have been skeptical of him. "Conservatives will be thrilled with this pick," said Greg Mueller, a conservative GOP strategist.
The price for that support could be high. Palin's lack of experience undercuts Republican allegations that Obama is not ready to be commander in chief.
McCain said in April that he was determined to avoid a pick like Dan Quayle, the little-known Indiana senator whom George H.W. Bush put on his ticket in 1988. The choice proved embarrassing.
Quayle "had not been briefed and prepared for some of the questions," McCain said while discussing his vice-presidential search. He was clearly aware that, as a septuagenarian, the decision he made about a running mate would be "of enhanced importance."
Four months and one birthday later, McCain's announcement of Palin made clear the paucity of her experience.
It is true, as a campaign statement said, that Palin has a record of bipartisan reform. She has a growing reputation as a maverick for bucking her party's establishment and Alaska's powerful oil industry.
Palin campaigned on ethics reform in the 2006 Republican state primary to defeat incumbent Gov. Frank Murkowski, who served 22 years in the U.S. Senate before winning the governor's seat in 2002.
"She's exactly who I need," said McCain, who passed over several more experienced candidates - mostly men. "She's exactly who this country needs to help me fight the same old Washington politics of 'Me first and Washington second."'
The campaign put out a statement saying what McCain did not: "She is ready to be president."
She has an ethical issue as well. Alaskan legislators are investigating whether Palin abused her power in firing a public safety commissioner.
They say they want to know whether Palin was angry at the commissioner for not firing an Alaska state trooper who went through a messy divorce and ongoing child custody battles with her sister.
Palin is 44, Obama 47. She served in her statehouse 20 months. Obama served in his statehouse for eight years. Obama and Palin are running less on their resumes than on they are on their promise. The promise of change and new politics.
The difference: Obama wants the top job, Palin the No. 2. But experience is something that matters to all voters - whether Republican, Democratic or independent.
And, as McCain has suggested himself, his 72nd birthday is a reminder that age matters, too.
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