McCain invests in Palin

State's GOP supports selection

By Adam Wilson | The Olympian • Published August 30, 2008

Local Republicans praised U.S. Sen. John McCain's selection of Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin as his vice-presidential running mate Friday.

"I can tell you that I know Sarah, and she's a remarkable woman, a great mother. She's one of those people who will amaze everybody with her style," said state Rep. Richard DeBolt, the House Republican leader from Chehalis.

The choice wasn't about bringing Alaska into the Republican side of the election; the state traditionally votes that way, DeBolt noted.

"I think it's truly about her character," he said.

Lacey City Councilman John Darby said he was ecstatic and that the timing of McCain's announcement was brilliant. The announcement came shortly after the Democratic National Convention, which ended Thursday, and before the Republican National Convention, which starts Monday.

"Being from Alaska, she understands the issues around energy," Darby said. "She has challenged the influence of big oil companies while fighting for the development of new energy resources."

Gov. Gregoire's take

But Palin's stances on some regional issues don't align with the views of most Washingtonians, said Gov. Chris Gregoire. She said Palin's support of oil drilling in Alaska's Arctic wildlife refuge was example.

Gregoire congratulated Palin and said she has a friendly relationship with her fellow Northwest governor, visiting and exchanging cards.

But Gregoire, like most Democrats Friday, said Palin's two years in the Alaskan statehouse and service as a mayor aren't enough for the vice presidency.

She also took issue with the Washington State Republican Party's assertion that Palin's role as the leader of the Alaskan National Guard qualifies as military experience.

"As commander in chief of the Washington National Guard, I deploy them for in-state, or to sister states, for needs of humanitarian efforts or to respond to a natural disaster," Gregoire said. 'That's the role of the commander in chief of the National Guard. It's not the military role of the president of United States."

Palin is only the second woman to be nominated for vice president, and if she and McCain are elected, she will be the first to serve. She is the first female governor of Alaska.

Gregoire is Washington's second female governor. Unlike the state's two female U.S. senators, she supported Sen. Barack Obama for president over Sen. Hillary Clinton.

In endorsing Obama, she said he was a needed break from recent years of politics. In assessing Palin, she said she wasn't ready to break the gender barrier in the Oval Office.

"We break that glass ceiling when we have someone who is immediately well-qualified," Gregoire said.