Ex-Gov. Whitman: 'Surprised' by McCain's Choice of Palin

by Josh Gerstein
Tue, 2 Sep 2008 at 8:02 PM

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A former New Jersey governor and key figure in the moderate wing of the Republican Party, Christine Todd Whitman, says she was "surprised" by Senator John McCain's choice of Governor Palin of Alaska as his running mate.

"I think I was as surprised as anybody," Ms. Whitman told The New York Sun yesterday just outside the St. Paul, Minn. arena where the Republican Convention is taking place. "What's really surprised me is the extent to which this has energized people and it is really remarkable…if you look at the amount of fund-raising that's occurred over the Internet from small and mid-sized donations, over $7 million, it tells you that she's struck a real chord."
Ms. Whitman offered no criticism of Mr. McCain's decision, but she didn't offer a full-throated endorsement of it or an argument that Ms. Palin will help the Republican nominee win over swing voters. "It's very interesting to watch this now play out and get to know more about her," the former governor said.
Asked whether Ms. Palin was lacking in experience, Ms. Whitman said Mr. McCain seemed to decide that wasn't so important. "I think he saw that the experience issue wasn't tracking with Obama and it wasn't working that way and so he took someone with whom he was comfortable whom he thought showed and does show breaking another glass ceiling, and will appeal to people that he wants to make sure are there when he needs them on election day," Ms. Whitman said, apparently referring to social conservatives rejoicing over Ms. Palin's selection. "She's been a governor, granted not for as long as you might want, but it takes something to be the first female governor I can speak to that."
Ms. Whitman, who also served as head of the Environmental Protection Agency from 2001 to 2003, said she doesn't think Mr. McCain ever considered her for the vice president slot, though she did give him a suggestion once. "I said I thought Tom Ridge would be a great vice president," she said, naming a former Pennsylvania governor who, like Ms. Whitman, supports abortion rights.

Related Topics: General Election

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