How McCain chose Palin
[cnn-photo-caption image= http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2008/images/08/29/art.ticktock.gi.jpg caption="McCain only talked with Palin once before choosing her."](CNN) - John McCain first met Sarah Palin only six months ago and had just one conversation with the Alaska governor before offering her the vice presidential slot on the Republican ticket, the Arizona senator's campaign said Friday.
The move appears to be a marked departure for McCain - a man known for his tendency to surround himself with a close circle of advisers and politicians he has long felt comfortable with.
But according to the McCain campaign, the presumptive Republican presidential nominee first met Palin in Washington at a February 2008 National Governors Association meeting. He was immediately impressed with the 44-year-old rising GOP star, and decided to consider her for the vice presidential slot.
McCain campaign manager Rick Davis had several conversations with Palin throughout the vetting process, but McCain himself didn't speak with the Alaska governor until last Sunday - one day after Barack Obama named Joe Biden to his ticket. It was then McCain reached Palin by phone while she was at the Alaska State Fair to discuss the possibility of joining the ticket.
Palin then traveled to Flagstaff, Arizona Wednesday evening, where she met with top McCain advisers Steve Schmidt and Mark Salter. On Thursday Palin traveled to McCain's Sedona, Arizona home where the Arizona senator had another conversation with her, and formally asked her to be his running mate.
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B R I L L I A N T
Where is McCain's flag lapel pin???? Theone he made such a big deal over when Obama wasn't wearing one.
Pawlenty and Romney were used, lol
DONT BE FOOLED by false bloggers saying we clinton supporters arent insulted by this… WE ARE!!
My friends an I have been EXTREMELY INSULTED by McCains' vp choice!!
Even more so because we were going to vote for him come Novemeber! But this is OUTRAGEOUS..selecting Palin simply because of her anatomy, and expecting intelligent american women to vote for him because of this!!
We have set up a group, consisting of 42 women already, who have commited to voting for OBAMA because of McCains decision.. which shows that he really IS OUT OF TOUCH with women in America!! There is only one choice this year.. OBAMA!!!
Eve Watson, New York
What a great choice!! Clinton paved the path for women like Palin. Congrats to Palin, Clinton and women everywhere.
We don’t want to know how he chose her ?
With in a day we know she is better than Obama
Life long democrat and Hillary strong supporter will vote for Mc Cain
Hillary 2012 /Mc Cain/Palin2008
Wow! He only met her once before yesterday??? That is scary! He doesn't even know her?????
Great Choice! Thanks for respecting an intelligent, strong woman.
You have this Hillary supporters vote. The democrats are all words, words, words!
Democrats for McCain/Palin
does he really think he'll get votes just because he picked a women????
Where is McCain's flag pin? He is not wearing one in any photo of him posted today. And this after he and the other Republicans made such a big deal about it. So I guess we can all question his patriotism now.
McCain Campaign, please instruct Governor Palin on how to pronounce "nuclear", "Iraq" and "Iran". No one will take her seriously if she comes out of the gate sounding like Bush!
I am so upset with this decision. What if he wins and something should happen to him?! He's leaving us with HER?! She's under criminal investigation and was placed on temporary leave last week! AND HE PICKED HER! IS HE INSANE?!
I'm going to have an aneurysm. What happened to Mitt Romney or Pawlenty, or Ridge or even Lieberman!? This is so irresponsible.
Well, they say McCain is a real firecracker, and today he blew his campaign's thumb off. Right from the beginning it looked the an impulsive choice (typical McCain, which is why his experience matters less than you'd think), and the details only confirm that. I bet he doesn't even realize how big a role her attractiveness played in his choice of her above the others. What a dangerous man to have in the White House.
Just when the number of houses gaffe was losing its punch, we have the VP announcement gaffe. This will last until Election Day, the gift that keeps on giving.
He met her one time??
This is scary. During the Warren debate, McCain would rush to answer before thinking. Now, he rushed his VP selection and selected a clearly unqualified candidate.
Does McCain have the right temperament to make presidential decisions?
Campbell Brown should be ashamed of herself. I am watching her right now - her show that alleges to be "no bias" - and she is blatantly pro-Obama. She is fully taking up the Obama talking points on Gov. Palin, without any effort whatsoever to be balanced. I am terribly disappointed.
Instead of a woman who runs with wolves, Palin prefers killing them...from airplanes and helicopters. What a brave, brave hunter! Then there's her position on teaching of evolution in schools: "It should be taught from all sides," she said ignorantly and presuming that there are many sides. Creationism (or "Intelligent Design") as the conservative courts of the land have decided is religion. Evolution is science. I wonder what her grade point average was at Univ. of Idaho.
Is it any wonder that in the last 28 years, America has dropped from being in the top ten literate countries to 41...after Poland, Cuba, and Slovenia? And this is the package Republicans think America should buy? Come on, fellas and gals. You're losing your minds.
blind shot , the future of US
SARAH PALIN????? The WORST governor in the COUNTRY on environmental/wildlife issues????? Someone a heart beat away from a presidency occupied by a pasty-faced sick-looking OLD white guy????? If nothing else, THIS should MOBILIZE a LOT of people!!!!!! It is me! What a stupid stupid choice by McCain! Nice try; no cigar!
He met her 6 MONTHS AGO......???????????!!!
How could anybody possibly decide if somebody capable of being VP after knowing them for only 6 months??
Makes you wonder what else he is likely to do in an instant, without much thaught! dangerous
She was a 5th choice. LOL @ this bungle by the GOP.
He is such a fake. First he says foreign policy is something his VP pick must have, and that he must be comfortable with that choice. Nice to see that he feels he can get in bed with her after two short meetings. Judment of McCain – 0!
He doesn't even know this woman! This is frightening!
DEMOCRATS 08!
I'm honored to be the first to comment! I'm extremely excited about the choice for VP! Women everywhere should be proud of where we have come. I'm not nervous at all; I know we're going to get this election won. Obama has too many things he's hiding about his past that still need to be exposed. Dems have made fun of President Bush for 8 years about how he talks, but have you heard Obama stumble and stutter while trying to think of answers? I can't wait for the upcoming debates, if Obama has the fortitude to accept the challenge. And do not underestimate Sarah Palin. You don't raise 5 children, one of them handicapped, without having nerves of steel and a strong conviction of right and wrong. Why is Obama keeping his secrets? Don't believe what the biased robot at CNN tell you. Shame on you women who are setting feminism back 50 years. Shame on you, Obama. (Just quoting Hillary)
Gergen and Campbell Brown are so in the tank for Obama it's crazy...how can anyone take them seriously?