Clinton congratulates Palin
[cnn-photo-caption image= http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2008/POLITICS/08/26/clinton.delegates/art.clintongeneric.gi.jpg caption="Sen. Hillary Clinton praised the choice of a female for McCain's vp."]
(CNN) - Hillary Clinton praised the historic nature of John McCain's vice presidential selection in a brief statement released Friday that was eagerly anticipated by both presidential campaigns.
“We should all be proud of Governor Sarah Palin's historic nomination, and I congratulate her and Senator McCain," Clinton, the first woman to win a presidential primary, said in the statement. "While their policies would take America in the wrong direction, Governor Palin will add an important new voice to the debate.”
The McCain campaign has made little secret of the fact the selection of Palin - the first woman to appear on a Republican presidential ticket - was in part designed to court supporters of Clinton's White house bid, some of whom feel the New York senator was treated unfairly during the primaries because of her gender and remain wary of supporting Obama.
Palin directly mentioned Clinton by name in her acceptance speech earlier Friday, saying, "Hillary left 18 million cracks in the highest, hardest glass ceiling in America. But it turns out the women of America aren't finished yet, and we can shatter that glass ceiling once and for all."
Clinton's statement reacting to Palin is markedly different than the Obama campaign's initial reaction which made no mention of the historic nature of the Alaska Republican's VP candidacy - instead painting her as woefully inexperienced to be commander-in-chief. The Obama campaign later released a joint statement from both the Illinois senator and his running mate, Joe Biden, praising Palin for making history.
It remains unclear just how many former Clinton supporters Palin may attract, but California Sen. Barbara Boxer said Friday that McCain is "badly mistaken" if he expects backers of the New York senator to break ranks with the Democratic party because of Palin.
Please, to all women voters, please don't vote for one's anatomy. All Palin is, is a ploy to get your vote for a symbolic "woman on top." Remember the ticket of McCain/Palin is still against things vital to women's rights - choice, equal pay, etc. Don't let anatomy sway you from the best course for our issues!
Good for you Hillary!!! You Women should stand together.
why would people who supported Hillary Clinton's intelligence, experience, and education support someone with an undergraduate degree in journalism and experience as mayor of a town of less than 10,000 before brief service as governor of a little-populated state?
Women you need to remember that it should always be country before self and it appears that you are being played.
CNN, why aren't you posting anything about how Sarah Palin called Hillary Clinton a whiner just a few months ago?
Add that to John McCain joking about how ugly Chelsea Clinton is at a GOP fundraiser and you have a rather dubious ticket for Hillary Clinton supporters to turn to.
Hillary, I'm sorry but he picked her because of you...
I'm telling you guys, I'm looking at some things and is VERY unusual...
I'm gonna look at the speech again from Senator McCain and from her. I bet you I could find something...
The GOP is DOOMED this Fall. Either that, or the United States is DOOMED.
Which is more important? Congratulations President Obama.
I have never heard so many sniviling, whining people in my life. Haven't you considered why (conservative) talk radio is so successfull?... Most people in the USA are conservative, all we ever hear from are the whining left.
If McCain thinks that he can pull Hillary's people because of this woman, he is crazy. there is no backer of Hillary Clinton who would
back an anti-abortion person. we are all prochoice. Don't they know that already. are they crazy???????
Hillary, we have your back...
McCain/Palin '08 for Clinton '12
We are not stupid McLame! I repeat, we are not stupid!!! She's wrong on the issues and she has as much business as I do being one heartbeat away from the oval office.
She might win over the pro-life Hillary supporters....oh wait, there aren't any.
I'm still trying to figure out how Palin is a better choice than Condi Rice, Elizabeth Dole, Kay Bailey Hutchinson, or any number of other GOP women.
A former beauty queen with even less elected experience than Obama who is married to an oil executive? Is that really the best you've got, McCain?
I will be smiling all weekend over this choice. Barack Obama will be our next President, and life is good.
Was Clinton the first woman to win a primary? Which primary did she win? Hmm?
well now, I can make my decision ... will stll vote Democrat
Only an idiot would vote for Palin because she is a woman, anybody who professes to be an ex-Hillary supporter switching to McCain now because of Palin is a liar.
Palin and Hillary are diametrically oppisite on virtually every issue.
This is simple (and even McCain admits it) pandering to Democratic women voters.
McSame and his trophy republican female – how lame...
HILLARY WAS POPULAR BECAUSE SHE WAS SOLID, COMPETENT, EXPERIENCED, HAD A STRONG NETWORK. IT WASNT SO MUCH THAT SHE WAS A WOMAN BUT THAT SHE WAS GOOD.
OTHER FEMALES HAD A BOND WITH HER. IM NOT SO SURE JUST ANOTHER FEMALE WILL AUTOMATICALLY WOO HILLARY SUPPORTERS PALIN.
So with that are you Dems ready to fight.
What is she going to do with her 5 month old baby during the campaing? is she putting her career before her family? from what is been told by the media he is a baby with special needs. As a mother I question her decision specially with all the time she would need to spend away from home..
What a terrible choice.
All Hillary supporters who claim they'll vote for McCain because she a woman really have no thinking faculty.
This is an insult to women's intelligence.
McCain who has repeatedly voted against the intrest of women all of a sudden brings a woman and you're willing to vote for her.
What of how he addresses his wife of the wife he left.
McCain has demonstrated all he is intrested is exploiting women without showing any respect.
As a firm Obama supporter I say that he should have tipped his hat to the historic nature of McCain's choice. That said, there is still time and he probably will.
What has struck me about this choice of Palin, is that the Republican party has done a poor job of bringing women up in the organization to be at this level to serve in the 2nd hightest office. So when pressed to pick up woman they pick someone with 18 months experience as a governor and no national experience. I am sure she is a very wonderful person but this is not a good thing for the country.
Hillary – the Democratic Party is SEXIST, Obama overlooked the BEST possible choice for VP – YOU!!!
I am still angry about this and I will be supporting the McCain/Palin ticket to show my anger at the Democratic Party and Obama campaign.
Either way – I sure hope you run in 2012!!! Imagine Clinton vs. Palin for President in 2012!!
I do not like Obama – all he is is a good speech. I think it's funny that the Obama campaign is crying that Palin has no experience!!! It's Obama that has NO EXPERIENCE!!!
Go Hillary 2012!!!
I am a serious Clinton supporter and I will see what Palin has to offer! McCain seems to have a much more diverse ticket than O-blah-blah-blah. McCain also seems to NOT be afraid of powerful women! It would have been awesome if he had put HIllary on his ticket, though! That really would have been historical.
Governor Palin's other occupations have included being a commercial fishing company owner, outdoor recreational equipment company owner and sports reporter, according to Congressional Quarterly.
Sorry, being a Governor for few years hardly qualifies her as George Bush has proven.
Very gracious statement from Hillary. Also very true that their politics will take the country in the wrong direction.