Posted on 07/06/2008 5:55:33 PM PDT by gscc
Record-high gasoline and oil prices are a centerpiece of the presidential tilt.
Republican John McCain has some options if he wants to leverage his vice presidential pick on the energy and economy front.
One wildcard name circulating is Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, according to political consultants.
(Excerpt) Read more at bizjournals.com ...
Republican John McCain has some options if he wants to leverage his vice presidential pick on the energy and economy front.
One wildcard name circulating is Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, according to political consultants.
Palin has been aggressive on the energy front, proposing a $1,200 one-time payment to Alaskans to help them deal with gas and energy costs. She also wants to suspend Alaska's eight-cents-per-gallon gasoline tax for one year.
McCain called for a summer suspension of the 18.4-cents-per-gallon federal gasoline tax.
U.S. gasoline prices stand at a record high $4.10 per gallon nationally. Diesel fuel is at $4.77 per gallon, according to AAA.
All that and crude oil trading above $140 per barrel is straining consumers and businesses.
Palin, 44, also approved a measure earlier this year that reduces various business fees and is conservative on social issues.
She also supports drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to boost domestic oil supplies. McCain has opposed ANWR drilling in the past but recently came out in favor of more off-shore drilling
The drawback for Palin is that she's not experienced, said Farrell Quinlan, president of In The Arena Public Affairs.
"Like Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal, Alaska's Sarah Palin seems destined to be on the GOP ticket someday. However, their relative inexperience for the presidency likely means they will have to wait for another four years. On the other hand, Palin or Jindal would be excellent vice presidential nominees if the McCain camp determines that they need a much younger running mate and the experience argument against Obama is not undermined by the pick," Quinlan said.
Public relations and political consultant Jason Rose agrees, but sees some possible upside. Rose did work for former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney during the Republican presidential primaries.
"She would be like a highly anticipated movie premiering with quite a bang. The question would be if her box office receipts and critical reviews could hold up in the following weeks. Time will tell if she fizzles out like Geraldine Ferraro or becomes a fall blockbuster," Rose said.
Plans to suspend Arizona's 18 cent per gallon gasoline tax never got off the ground at the Legislature, due in part to opposition to the idea from Gov. Janet Napolitano.
Napolitano and Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama also oppose the McCain federal gas tax holiday proposal. Obama is also against ANWR oil exploration and more off-shore drilling.
Other potential McCain VP picks include Romney, U.S. Sens. Joseph Lieberman and John Thune; Govs. Charlie Crist of Florida and Louisiana's Jindal and U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice.
The McCain campaign is not commenting on the VP selection process.
McCain can win if he picks her now.
All those Dem women who were for Hillary will go for him,
and if Nobama picks a woman after McCain, he’ll be
just another copycat.
This would make it a little easier to hold my nose and vote for McCain...which is why I doubt he’ll pick her.
I don’t think so. Most people don’t vote because of the VP and, in addition, most people don’t even know anything about her.
It would be a dumb move. Alaska is not a key swing state. McCain has painted himself into such a corner that he’s got to balance the ticket in order to get a key swing state. He’s gotta count on his energy policy to win in Alaska.
I think you’re right
She always looked like the best choice to me.
Hell, Nat Hentoff, no conservative (except for his longstanding pro-life position) even wrote a piece on her
suitability for a Veep slot a few months ago.
They would both have to co-ordinate a one-two punch relating her experience and knowledge of Alaska, directly with a well thought out proposal to do just that: “Drill here, drill now.....in ANWR!” It would beat by a mile anything Team Obama could come up with.
It would be a great move. In fact, by attracting
women voters of the other party, McCain would be
a vote-getter far beyond any state line.
Unlike other VP choices, no one would be turned off by
Gove. Palin.
Energy policy? McCain has a comprehensive energy policy that can pass the scrutiny of Congress and the American people? Drill, Drill, Drill ain't going to cut it...
I disagree. This is what he needs - a young firebrand with election potential in 2012. Very conservative, attractive, and executive experience. While I liked Romney at the top of the ticket, I think the Republicans need to make a splash here = Romney at #2 doesn't do it. Another white guy. Say what you will, but we need to neutralize Obama's mass appeal. We can't count on him to make a media-coverable flub, and McCain is playing too nice to go on the attack.
Come on...
She is just another woman who is lucky to have a husband take care of her...
Down South, she will not play...
Conservatives will not get out of their recliners for this establishment woman...
“Europe was created by history. America was created by philosophy.”
Margaret Thatcher
Would A McCain/Palin ticket be enough to defeat Obama say over a McCain/Romney ticket, I do not know? But McCain does not have the excitement factor that Obama has and that may very well lead to McCain's defeat. Palin would do a lot to boost McCain and hopefully prevent his defeat.
DemocRATS despise pretty women.
Interesting. Wonder where you heard this first? hehehehehehe
Hentoff is a straight shooter.
She more(or less depending, on your point of view) than an establishment woman. I don’t live in Alaska, but from what I’ve heard about her, she’s a pretty hard core Conservative.
Because of McCain’s age, it is reasonable for voters to think that McCain’s VP choice will have a better chance of becoming President than is usually the case. So the choice has to be seen as able to take over. Because of lack of experience Palin and Jindal should not be selected. IMO it should be either Romney or Pawlenty, and the choice should be made now.
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