Dem consultant says Palin pick will cost McCain Pa.

By Dan Hirschhorn, PolitickerPA.com Reporter

"Bizzare pick. I just don't get it."

Those were the words of longtime Democratic political consultant Larry Ceisler today, as he described his bewilderment over why U.S. Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) had chosen Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin as his running mate.

By passing over former Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Ridge, Ceisler said, McCain will lose the state and likely even the election.

"I think that Tom Ridge would have won Pennsylvania for McCain, I think he would have won the election for McCain," Ceisler said. "And I think Tom Ridge on the ticket would have give the party a good chance of winning the State house back and even some row offices. I tell you, if I’m one of the runner ups … I’m not feeling real good about this.

"It does not help him one bit in Pennsylvania," Ceisler added. "Paint Pennsylvania blue."

DAN HIRSCHHORN is a PolitickerPA.com Reporter and can be reached via email at danh@politickerpa.com.

Comments

LOL

posted by Matthew Best

First, "I don't get it" sums up Mr. Ceisler. He also didn't the fact that had McCain picked Ridge or another moderate, conservatives would have walked away to Barr.

Second, I'd rather lose PA and win a national election any day. Maybe that would get rid of the GOP establishment that is destroying the party.

Third, the voters of this state will identify with Palin because she's just like them - authentic, hard working, and traditional.

08/29/08 4:15 pm

All that needs to be

posted by No Way

All that needs to be repeated over and over is that she is a 44yr old beauty queen, who 2 years ago was a mayor of a small town in Alaska, who has no foreign policy knowledge whatsoever and what happens if tragedy falls McCain. McCain was not thinking "country first" with this pick at all. No one can tell me they are comfortable with her as president unless they are delusional.

08/29/08 8:35 pm

sarah palin

posted by Mike Livingston

She may not help with everyone, but she will very likely help a lot with some people, and that may be all that McCain needs to win

08/29/08 10:57 pm

small town

posted by Matthew Best

Hmm, when I look at the map, there are far more small towns in America than there are big cities. Frankly the small town argument is a bit elitist.

08/30/08 3:34 pm

He's not saying that people

posted by Jack

He's not saying that people from small towns can't be good additions to the national ticket.

Did the fact that PA Governor Ray Shafer came from Meadville keep him off the ticket in 1968? Of course not. His experience didn't simply end at a small town job and a couple years as governor -- he was Crawford County DA, a state senator, and lieutenant governor before being elected governor (not to mention combat service in the Navy in WWII)

But the fact is that having no other experience than being part-time mayor of a town of 6,500 and 20 months in the Governor's mansion is something that voters should consider.

08/30/08 5:07 pm

McCain Just Won PA by Picking Palin

posted by indievotes

McCain just won PA, as well as the entire election, by picking Palin.

It was a brilliant game changing move that will bring the women's vote out like Hillary Clinton did.

Not to mention that Palin has FAR MORE experience than obama does, and she's one of us. She will resonate with the voters across middle America like Bill Clinton did. She's a real person, unlike the manufactured fraud that obama is.

McCain/Palin 08

08/30/08 6:29 pm

fair game

posted by Matthew Best

What's good for the goose is good for the gander.

The fact is also having no other experience than being a community organizer, state senator and less than 2 years as a US Senator, in which time Obama has mostly been running for President, is something that the voters should also consider.

08/30/08 10:10 pm