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Colorado GOP leaders embrace Palin

By Ed Sealover, Rocky Mountain News

Published August 29, 2008 at 7:33 p.m.
Updated August 29, 2008 at 7:33 p.m.

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Colorado Republican leaders were unanimous in their praise of John McCain's choice of Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin as his running mate, but each had a different reason why.

Some talked about Palin's reformist ways being needed inside the Beltway. Others lauded the anti-abortion dedication of a woman who kept her youngest son after learning during her pregnancy that he would be born with Down's Syndrome. Still others believe that she can bring suburban women back into the Republican fold.

Democrats were more united in their reasons for disliking the pick. Most criticized either her lack of experience or her pro-life stance.

Here's a look at the reaction:

"There's one thing we ladies admire, and that is a strong woman ... Conservatives love her. There's just a buzz in the air today."

— U.S. Rep. Marilyn Musgrave, R-Fort Morgan

"Certainly she draws (suburban women) in more than another old white guy would."

— Senate Minority Leader Andy McElhany, R-Colorado Springs

"I admire people who are in real life who they say they are when you put them under the spotlight ... I was going to vote for John McCain because he wasn't Barack Obama. Now I'm going to vote for John McCain because I'm excited about his vice presidential pick."

— U.S. Rep. Tom Tancredo, R-Littleton, lauding Palin's pro-life credentials

"I think it's an outstanding and gutsy choice. She's a young governor of Alaska who has already demonstrated she's not afraid to take tough stands on fiscal responsibility and developing Alaska's energy resources, and I think she will stand in stark contrast to the Washington insider Joe Biden."

— Colorado Republican Party Chairman Dick Wadhams

"She adds so much to the ticket in real-life, real-world experience. She's a mother, she's an executive, she's been on commissions, she's given to her community in the PTA."

— House Minority Caucus Chairwoman Amy Stephens, R-Monument

"I think it shows that McCain is as feisty as he ever was and he's going to do the right thing ... It's bold and it's exciting and it bodes well for a McCain presidency."

— State Rep. Rob Witwer, R-Golden

"The Republicans have made what may have been the single biggest piece of bad judgment in the history of presidential politics. McCain had said this campaign was about experience and Obama had said it was about judgment. John McCain abandoned the experience argument and showed that he has no judgment."

— Colorado Democratic Party Vice Chairman Dan Slater

"I think in many ways this selection may backfire on the McCain campaign. It'll make women mad that the McCain campaign would be so cynical as to think that by picking somebody who is so obviously unqualified, that women would vote for her simply because of her gender."

— U.S. Rep. Diana DeGette, D-Denver

Rocky staff writers Myung Oak Kim and Kevin Vaughan contributed to this report.

Comments

  • August 29, 2008

    8:38 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    HopiMedicineMan writes:

    Rob Witwer has been alienating himself from the Party for the past
    18 months. I would say this about finishes him off.

  • August 29, 2008

    8:43 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    HopiMedicineMan writes:

    "I think it shows that McCain is as feisty as he ever was and he's going to do the right thing ... It's bold and it's exciting and it bodes well for a McCain presidency."

    — State Rep. Rob Witwer, R-Golden

    Right on, actually a reversal of a broad perception of Witwer's liberalism.

  • August 30, 2008

    8:59 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    downtoearth writes:

    McCain just got my vote with his choice of Palin. I'm now very excited! A woman with scruples who isn't afraid to take on oil, political power and stand up for the unborn. Way to go McCain!

  • September 1, 2008

    9:45 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    50something writes:

    She walks her talk on the pro life platform, and she has more executive experience than the opponents, who have zero. She's fairly new to politics, which is actually in her favor, as opposed to Washington insider Joe Biden. She has already proven to be a change agent, while Obama has nothing but promises lacking substance.

  • September 1, 2008

    9:49 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    50something writes:

    Hey DeGette, how many people are voting for Obama, who is as you say, "so obviously unqualified," and "simply because of his race?" You are so hypocritical.