Ahead Of Key Speech, GOP Centrists Mostly Bullish On Palin
By Peter Cohn
National Journal OnlineRepublican moderates at the convention expressed a mix of emotions about the selection of Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin for the number-two slot on the ticket. When she speaks tonight, they will be watching to see which Palin emerges: the plain-spoken reformer and mother or the gun-toting, anti-abortion rights conservative.
"She would be very popular in my area if she is seen as somebody who killed the 'bridge to nowhere,' sold the governor's jet on Ebay, mother of five, hockey mom," said Rep. Mark Kirk, R-Ill., co-chairman of the Tuesday Group of House moderates. "On the other hand, if she's defined on some of the social issues she would lose some support, so I think Wednesday's a big night for her."
"This is where she gets to earn her stripes," agreed Rep. Tom Davis, R-Va., co-chairman of the Republican Main Street Partnership's PAC. "In a way the bar is a little bit higher as someone who hasn't been in everyone's living rooms for the last 10 years."
Some moderates expressed surprise about Palin's selection. "Like 99.9 percent of the people here, I don't know her," said Rep. Michael Castle, R-Del., at a reception hosted by the Tuesday Group PAC.
But he said he was impressed with Palin initially and that she would solidify the party behind McCain. Castle added Democrats would be making "a huge mistake" to bring out the inexperience argument against her. "I disagree with her on some of the social issues, but I'll say this: I'll take two years as governor over any number of years I've had in Congress," said Castle, a former governor.
For many moderates, a key remains the importance of Palin's gender. "We're way overdue in having a woman on the ticket," said Rep. Fred Upton, R-Mich.
Davis, a former National Republican Congressional Committee chairman, said Palin can appeal to some independents who previously supported Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, D-N.Y. "Her life story is a compelling one," said Davis, who is retiring. "Most candidates are generally Phi Beta Kappa, Harvard Law graduates and Rhodes Scholars ... the average Joe can relate to her, or the average Joan."
Davis and others said while moderates might disagree with Palin on abortion rights and other social issues, she does not push her views on others, a sentiment echoed by former Rep. Nancy Johnson, R-Conn. "My only concern is not whether she's pro-life, but whether she believes she could make me pro-life," Johnson said.
Moderates agreed the issue of Palin's pregnant, unmarried 17-year-old daughter should not be a factor in the campaign, saying it was a private family matter. But Castle said it nonetheless could hurt the ticket, in that it raises some questions about the vetting process. "I think it's just a question of who knew what, when," he said. "I don't see how it could be helpful ... I hope it would not be harmful."
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