Sarah Palin says she and John McCain are practically strangers

John McCain and his new running mate, Sarah Palin, are spending some quality time together today. After this morning's rally in Dayton, Ohio, they boarded McCain's bus for the six-hour ride to Pittsburgh.

That's a good thing. Because McCain and Palin are practically strangers.

At least that's what she told a reporter two weeks ago. In an interview with the Washington, D.C., newspaper Roll Call, Palin said she had met McCain only once or twice.

She said she was introduced to McCain at the 2006 Republican Governors Assn. meeting.

The pair met again this week, according to McCain campaign spokeswoman Jill Hazelbaker. In a news release, Hazelbaker said Palin arrived with an aide in Flagstaff, Ariz., on Wednesday evening to meet with McCain advisors Steve Schmidt and Mark Salter.

On Thursday morning, Palin met with Cindy McCain and John McCain at their home in Sedona, Ariz. That, according to Hazelbaker, is where McCain made his big revelation: "At approximately 11:00 a.m. Thursday August 28, 2008, John McCain formally invited Governor Sarah Palin to join the Republican ticket as the vice presidential nominee on the deck of the McCain family home."

For more Palin-related news, check out Michael Finnegan's assessment of what a McCain-Palin ticket might mean in November.

-- Kate Linthicum

Photo: Meagan McCain is a regular fixture on her father's tour bus. Soon Sarah Palin will be too. Credit: Mary Altaffer / Associated Press

Comments

[FAQ correspondant]

Stranger to McCain, even stranger to American Public. Why would the GOP select a greenhorn from South Park on their ticket?

McCain/Pale in comparison to Obama/Biden powerhouse.
http://faqnews.wordpress.com/2008/08/29/gop-selects-mayor-of-southpark-to-lead-nation/

[BJ]

Obama is toast!

[Ex-Obama Supporter]

As an female Obama Supporter, I find the selection of Sarah Palin one of the most open minded decisions the GOP has had. It couldn't have came at a better time for them.

I wanted Hillary for President, but after her defeat from obama, (which he has now changed his positions to hers in the primaries), So I am now supporting Mccain/Palin because of his selection for VP.

Not only does Mccain have women in higher paying positions in his campaign, but now he has proven to America, that us women should be equal in the everyday work force, no matter what.

Bye Obama, I'm changing my position just like you have sooo many other times.

[Pamela]

When America falls in love with her and her beautiful family, Obama will be toast. Her husband is also part Eskimo, Wow! We have a black man, a woman, an Eskimo, and Biden(big mouth)

[grizzle]

God, she's gorgeous.

[O.P. Neon]

The aburd candidacy of McCain is getting more weird by the hour.
- Gov. Palin should be caring more fo rthe child born in April, eas part of true family values, and not to use that child as sympathy vote, Just take care of the immediat eneedy and worry not about the fluffy affairs in the name of service. She shoul dhave had sufficient self-respect to decline invitation.
- Inthe first sentence she uttered on stage in Ohio, she thanked Mrs. McCain for the honor and opportunity of this nomination. Imagine Joe Biden thanking Michelle fo rhis new role and responsibilities now on.
- McCain does not have good judgment or even guts to tackle the immediate challenges his campaign faces; forget about the national level.
- The RNC is a bunch of self-centric yes-men and yes-women, who hate Hillary, but wish to use her name in hopeless attempt to lure women voters.
- These folks have no clue to the level of problem this nation faces, most of these have happened while they abused power relentlessly over a decade and beyond.
- The cheer leading and enthusiastic support by other VP contenders will be interesting to see along the next 2 months or so.
- Gov. Palin's appearance in Ohio already looked like the dear in the headlights. Scrutiny has yet to begin.

[anon]

"but now he has proven to America, that us women should be equal in the everyday work force, no matter what."

Hrm, I'm pretty sure that Obama was the one who supported equal pay for equal measures for women.

[Wendy (used to be Republican, now Ind)]

To all those women who are changing from Obama to McCain ONLY because he chose a female running mate, should hold on...learn more about her before you blindly go following just due to anatomy.

[Barbara J Struble]

I am a democrat for McCain / Palin.

[rypo]

As an female Obama Supporter, I find the selection of Sarah Palin one of the most open minded decisions the GOP has had. It couldn't have came at a better time for them.

I wanted Hillary for President, but after her defeat from obama, (which he has now changed his positions to hers in the primaries), So I am now supporting Mccain/Palin because of his selection for VP.

Not only does Mccain have women in higher paying positions in his campaign, but now he has proven to America, that us women should be equal in the everyday work force, no matter what.

Bye Obama, I'm changing my position just like you have sooo many other times.

Posted by: Ex-Obama Supporter | August 29, 2008 at 03:03 PM

Really? I feel like you're faking. I find it interesting that you don't see this as a truly misogynistic move on McCain's part. The motivation for this is clearly "the Democrats didn't give you a woman, so here's a replacement woman." Her lack of experience (and lack of interaction with McCain, for that matter) makes no difference – she was chosen because she's a woman. Pretty offensive, in my opinion.

[adelle]

The relationship between the President and the VP has to be one of not only respect but the upmost trust. McCain and Palin know nothing about how they'll work together or even if they'll like one another. I am disappointed that he didn't pick Romney, Huckabee, or Pawlenty. The Commander in Chief question will come up and I am afraid Palin will not pass it. She recently said in an interview on FOX News that she doesn't even know what the VP does.

[Lrez]

I'm an independent and a woman--I like this ticket. Palin has as much experience as Obama--and is intelligent enough to learn on the job--like they all do. I imagine McCain will take her under his foreign-policy-wing and she'll get all she needs from being VP.

Another IMPORTANT side-note. With Bush-Cheney we elected a weak president/strong VP which was BAD! Why? Because the VP made many behind the scenes decisions that he didn't really have to be accountable for--much like what will happen with an Obama/Biden ticket. Have we not learned our lesson with this scenario?? A weak president DOES NOT need a strong VP--they need more time to get prepared.

The McCain/Palin ticket is as it should be--strong president/weaker VP--but VP gets ready for the big job. If, lord forbid, something happens prematurely to McCain and she moves up to the top spot--the way she has conducted her life here-to-for can inform us about what kind of president she'll be--apparently a tough one.

[J Rose]

These responses are unbelievably shallow - you've got to be kidding. God help us....

[Charles L. Freeman]

Prediction - When all the smoke clears after the RNC next week, the GOP powers-that-be will bring McCain to his senses and explain to him that this is a totally unqualified person to possibly be a heartbeat away from the Presidency. Her official reason (excuse) for withdrawing from the campaign will be that "I underestimated how much time and effort this campaign would entail and I need to be with my infant son who was born with Down Syndrome. I appreciate the opportunity and honr provided to me by Senator McCain but for the sake of my family (and party), I must withdraw at this time."

[Jerome]

I really have to wonder about a woman who would go on an 11-hour plane trip while giving birth just so her baby would be born an Alaskan. She put her own life, and her baby's life, at risk. That doesn't give me much comfort regarding her judgment, especially considering she has no foreign policy resume.

[anonymous]

Another example of McCain's poor judgement. A veep he doesn't even know. Bet he let a staff member make that pick for him. Just how he'd run the presidency, too.

[J Rose]

To the "female Obama supporter" who has switched, I don't buy it - more likely a McCain supporter posing as someone who has changed their mind. Transparent Rush Limbaugh tactics.

[John]

Why do people still support Obama?

Where's his record of change? I can't support this waffling unprincipled man that liked to vote present alot.

Two party-defying mavericks. Landslide election :D

McCain-Palin 2008

[Hired GOP Plant]

Poor interns working for the GOP, having to post all these B.S. comments.

[Michael]

Love all the BS posts from supposed Democrats who are switching to McCain. I don't believe any of you.

This woman is about as far right as you can get, so there is no way a real Democrat is going to vote for her.

Oh BTW, I'm a hardcore right-wing nut-job who is now voting for Obama.

[aaron johnson]

Horrible Pick..one heartbeat away from...Sarah Palin?

[felix gonzales]

C'mon who is McCain kidding? little known! She's from Alaska! (off shore oil ) Duh!. Remember Condi and her Oil tanker name sake. Maybe they will name an off shore rig and a tanker after Sarah! Mccain is just trying to get the womens vote, as if women were so stupid not to see this. Who in their right mind would vote republican just to vote for a woman as VP? You vote for someone who can handle the job. sure Hillary was able to, but the people chose Obama instead. personally I wouldn't vote for a republican for another 8 terms hopfully by then the corrupted will have died off, gotten arrested or finally come out out of the closet. Most of the ones in washington are so corrupt look at how many of them are either being investigated or outed or left office because they were on the verg of getting busted on something.Even George Bush, Mr. Mafia himself is going to be heading to the Hague just you watch. And who are these supposed idiots who vote for a cadidate because of their looks? what kind of sense is that ? those kind of voters nobody needs.

[William]

McCain has made the most sexist decision. After he uses her to win the election, and if he suceeds, Palin will surely be relagated to be the trophy vp and co-first lady.

Sad to say, but this seems to be his trajectory.

[Steve Babylon]

I believe McCain may have just won himself an election. She is great and the more I learn the more i like. I think her lack of exposure to that nut hunt call DC is an asset not a problem.
Go McCain Go!

[Suzie]

When I first heard the news, I checked my calendar to see make sure it wasn't April 1st...