Analysis: Palin's age, inexperience rival Obama's Ron Fournier - The Associated Press

DENVER -- John McCain's risky choice of Gov. Sarah Palin gives him a running mate who doubles down on his maverick image, may appeal to "hockey moms" and other women, and counters Barack Obama's aura of new-generation change. But he may have undercut his best attack on the Democrat.

If Obama is an empty suit, as McCain has suggested, is Palin suited for the Oval Office herself?

She is younger and less experienced than the first-term Illinois senator, and brings an ethical shadow to the ticket. A governor for just 20 months, she was two-term mayor of Wasilla, Alaska, a town of 6,500 where the biggest issue is controlling growth and the biggest civic worry is whether there will be enough snow for the Iditarod dog-mushing race.

"On his 72nd birthday, is this really the one-heartbeat-away he wants to put in the White House?" said Rep. Rahm Emanuel, the No. 3 Democrat in the House. "What does this say about his judgment?"

It says that McCain wanted to add a reform-minded politician to his ticket, and an abortion opponent to boot. It says he needs more women to back him over Obama, who just welcomed a passel of Hillary Clinton voters into his fold but remains shaky with white males. And, finally, it's a recognition of how vulnerable McCain is despite polls showing it's close.

He put his money down on a darkhorse to try to change the race.

A suburban mother and PTA member who described her fisherman husband as a proud union member and "champion snow machine racer," Palin brings to the ticket the blue-collar, everyday-American qualities that Sen. Joe Biden brought last week to Obama's ticket -- with a distinctively Alaskan twist.

The pick earned McCain praise Friday from evangelicals and other social conservatives who have been skeptical of him. "Conservatives will be thrilled with this pick," said Greg Mueller, a conservative GOP strategist.

The price for that support could be high. Palin's lack of experience undercuts GOP charges that Obama is not ready to be commander in chief. McCain said in April that he was determined to avoid a pick like Dan Quayle, the little-known Indiana senator whom George H.W. Bush put on his ticket in 1988. The choice proved embarrassing.

Quayle "had not been briefed and prepared for some of the questions," McCain said while discussing his vice presidential search. He was clearly aware that, as a septuagenarian, the decision he made about a running mate would be "of enhanced importance."

Four months and one birthday later, McCain's announcement of Palin made clear the paucity of her experience.

"As the head of Alaska's National Guard and as the mother of a soldier herself," the statement said, "Gov. Palin understands what it takes to lead our nation and she understands the importance of supporting our troops."

It is true, as the statement said, that Palin has a record of bipartisan reform. She has a growing reputation as a maverick for bucking her party's establishment and Alaska's powerful oil industry. Palin campaigned on ethics reform in the 2006 GOP primary to defeat incumbent Gov. Frank Murkowski, who served 22 years in the U.S. Senate before winning the governor's seat in 2002.

"She's exactly who I need," said McCain, who passed over several more experienced candidates -- mostly men. "She's exactly who this country needs to help me fight the same old Washington politics of 'Me first and Washington second.' "

The campaign put out a statement saying what McCain did not: "She is ready to be president."

She has an ethical issue as well. Alaska lawmakers are investigating whether Palin abused her power in firing a public safety commissioner. Lawmakers say they want to know whether Palin was mad at the commissioner for not firing an Alaska state trooper who went through a messy divorce and ongoing child custody battles with Palin's sister.

Palin is 44, Obama 47. She served in her statehouse 20 months. Obama served in his statehouse for eight years. Obama and Palin are running less on their resumes than on they are on their promise. The promise of change and new politics.

The difference: Obama wants the top job, Palin the No. 2. But experience is something that matters to all voters -- whether Republican, Democratic or independent. And, as McCain has suggested himself, his 72nd birthday is a reminder that age matters, too.

She is a real reformer from small town America....AP elitists think people like that are stupid.

Sounds like a Ballot Box lefty FAXed those talking points in, so its hard to get worried about it. Palin comes off as far more decissive than Obama, and doesnt say "uh" every other word. Let the chips fall where they may.

No Jeff. I think the AP reporter just pointed out the obvious. If you want someone with 20 months experience as a Governor that is your own personal choice. It doen't change anything.

I have to say Mary this sticks me as the most bizarre choice. She may shore up the "conservative base" somewhat but other than that I don't see what she brings to the ticket. Sure she is a female but there are far more qualified republican females out there and they should be pissed right about now.

This strikes me as a panic choice. I am told that there were not even McCain/Palin signage at the meet and great. At his age and given his bouts with cancer this is a choice that at the end of the day will make many nervous. Given that the veep choice should be reflective of the candidates judgement I can't say I would give McCain passing grades.

Yep, just like you support a man who couldn't even hold his meetings on Afghanistan and started his poltiical career in a terrorist's living room. Hey, if you guys want to talk inexperience...lets talk inexperience.

mary, I think that this choice was just plain insulting to women. It will most likely shore up conservatives, but I'm betting the independents can run fast enough away from this ticket.

The problem becomes more blaring when you try to pretend she has anywhere near his experience. I find it curious you pretended he had no experience and now pretend she does.

Adav that was my take as well. He couldn't have possibly thought strong democrat Hillary supporters would race to vote for him because she is on the ticket since her stances are the opposite of Hillary in important areas. It was a little reckless and fundamentally flawed thinking. If he won his health and age puts him in the vulnerable category.

I think you are correct about judgement coming into question.

I'm curious as to what experience Obama has. I have watched the guy for over a year and a half and still haven't seen one thing he has championed that makes me think he is a reformer and has dealt with on of our top issues today. Looking at her for three weeks, I can name quite a few:

1) Took on her party leader when she found him using public money to fundraise for the republican party

2) Beat a Governor from her own party

3) Stopped the bridge to nowhere

4) Pushed major ethics reform through

5) Pushed a major gas pipeline through to help with energy

I am willing to admit Obama has talents and some credentials...but if you want to play this broad brush game with Palin, I will be more than happy to show you why she is the real deal and he is nothing more than a politician from Chicago.

It certainly assumes that women and democrat Hillary supporters are brainless imo. What was he thinking?

Jeff please. I think she is a hero for what she did and I think she is obviously unique. I like her. But she only has 20 months as Governor. The rest is as a Mayor for a tiny town and being on the City Council of that 5,000 plus town.

I can't even pretend I'm not concerned since McCain is not exactly in a healthy situation. I think this article articulated the real problems that exist.

And I am more concerned that Obama is an empty suit who will be president on day one and doesnt grasp foreign policy or energy issues enough to be a successful president. That and the fact his chruch promoted black liberation theology is enough for me to be glad the McCain is running against him and Palin is his VP where she can be groomed to be president.

if you were knowledgable, and didn't just throw around terms like elitists as if that had some real meaning and wasn't just a weapon in the arsenal of right wing class warfare against the media.

Elitists are people who fly around on thier own private jets, between the houses they can't remember the number of.

The author of that AP peice, Ron Fournier is a McCain supporter, who provided much advice to McCain before taking the AP's slot as Washington correspondent,and has since written one absurdly negative piece after another about Obama. He's the guy who presented McCain with a box of his favorite donuts at the Correspondents speech.

Discounting his comments and labeling him an elitist just because you don't like his message and the facts in his peice, has long been a weapon against bad news from the right, I understand. But this time, it just illustrates how much you don't know about who does and who doesn't support your candidate.

You have got to be kidding. And you are thrilled with this pick? Great. Just great.