| "I think she's a great pick. I think Senator McCain has a reputation of being sort of a maverick in the U.S. Senate and I think this lady is very reform-oriented. She has cut spending in Alaska. She has done some good stuff. She brings a new dimension to the ticket [being a woman with five children]."
--Del. Bill Howell, R-Stafford, House speaker |
| "As a Republican, I'm thrilled. As a woman, I'm thrilled. As a conservative, I'm thrilled. I think he has flipped change on its head. Foreign policy isn't where he falls short. Sarah Palin brings the executive experience. If having a 5-month-old baby is an issue, then that would have been an issue in her home state where she was governor."
--Susan Stimpson, Stafford County Republican chairwoman |
| "I think she's certainly not a match for Joe Biden based on what little I know about her. It's probably just an attempt on McCain's team to woo Hillary's supporters away to McCain."
--Opal Stroup, Spotsylvania County Democratic co-chairman |
| "I guess he figured he's got to go after Hillary's supporters, but I'm glad to see him choose someone not like himself. Because the other candidates didn't go through, she's probably the only one who didn't have any liabilities."
--Harold Bannister, Fredericksburg Democratic Committee |
"I think it was a great selection. She's got great executive experience, she's worked her way up and she's got a great family background. She's got a son in Iraq and a 5-month-old infant with Down syndrome. This gives her a unique perspective because she's got a number of children in a variety of situations. I think she brings a lot to the table, with a great perspective on a variety of issues." --Rep. Rob Wittman, R-Westmoreland |