Mark Wright’s Blog

There has been a significant amount of speculation as to who John McCain would choose as his running mate.  I figured that he would go after a fairly well known senator or congressman.  Someone with a lot of experience and entrenched in the politics as usual bent of Washington.  Needless to say, McCain showed me he has some tricks up his sleeve.   He chose Sarah Palin, the 44-year-old governor of Alaska as his running mate.

I am impressed.  This was a very gutsy move on McCain’s part.  He has balanced the scales with bringing a younger voice into his campaign.  Palin became the youngest governor in the history of Alaska and has kept high approval ratings.  Her anti –abortion stance will keep her in the good graces of the evangelicals while her views on climate change mirror McCain’s.

This choice is historical.  Regardless of who wins, we will either have an African American or a woman in the most powerful positions in this country.  These are very exciting times.  In my opinion, this is a huge counter to Obama.  Obama, being the young candidate, brings in a member of the old guard to balance things.  McCain turns around and brings youth to his side.  I see the race as a dead heat.  The timing couldn’t be better.  After Obama’s rousing speech before 75,000 attendees in Denver, people are talking about this more now than the Democratic convention. 

I think having Palin on the ticket will bring women voters to the McCain ticket that otherwise wouldn’t be there.  It also tears down the idea of McCain being a business as usual Republican.  It has also made my decision on whom to vote for even more difficult.  I like where both candidates are going.  I feel like for the first time in a long time I am not voting for the lesser of two evils.   Now as time goes on, I might change my mind about that but for the first time in a long time, I am genuinely interested in a Presidential campaign.