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Republican John McCain ended the speculation and announced his running mate. The candidate said Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin was "exactly" what the country needs.
McCain introduced Palin as his vice presidential choice during a rally in Ohio this morning, saying she's a political partner who can best help him "shake up Washington."
If the choice of a political unknown was a bit of a bombshell everywhere in the country, it had a few extra reverberations in Utah. That's because so many people here favored Mitt Romney for the second spot on the ticket.
For ordinary voters, the general reaction was, "Well, I don't know much about her." But most seem ready to give her a chance.
For Republican loyalists, they gave no indication they had any reservations or disappointment and praised Sarah Palin as if she was the obvious choice.
As the announcement sunk in, Utahns started getting used to a new face on the political scene. One person we spoke with said, "I'm really thrilled, yeah." Kent Jensen of Taylorville said, "[I] know nothing about her. She's the governor of Alaska, is that correct?"
Gov. Jon Huntsman knows Gov. Palin and thinks Utah Republicans will get over Mitt Romney. "She's wedded to the West geographically, and I think people are going to be very, very excited about what they find in Sarah Palin," Huntsman said.
He added, "You know, here we have a former mayor, which is great experience, [and] a governor. She's been governor for two years, which is a year longer than Barack Obama, before he started his presidential campaign, had been a member of the U.S. Senate."
Gov. Huntsman also touched on her personal life. He said, "I don't think we ought to downplay the fact that she is a parent, which is awfully important here. She's got five kids. She has one that is a special needs child, [and] she has one who is in the military. So the real-world experience and the connection to the working-class roots, which I think is a proud tradition within the Republican Party, is such an attractive feature here. And I think it's going to excite a whole lot of people as they begin to know Sarah."
Jensen wasn't so sure about McCain's decision. He said, "I think it's going to be an uphill battle for him, with an unknown running mate."
"I really like her confidence," said a person we spoke with. "That she's a family woman and had five kids and raised them."
Of course, Palin's experience is that of a small town mayor and governor of a low population state. Hatch said, "We all wish there was more experience on the part of everybody," Hatch said. "But let me tell you, she's got guts. She's got ability."
Many see the choice as an attempt to reach a different voting base. Tyler Squire of North Salt Lake said, "Meaning women. Meaning me! I mean, I'm not real interested in McCain, kind of an old guy, kind of a dirty, old man. I don't really like him that much. So my vote for him hinged really on the V.P."
"I think it's great to have a woman be a possible vice president," said Katie Lewis of Holladay.
But many want the race decided on the issues. Lewis said, "Right, [I] haven't made up my mind."
Many Utah Republicans were almost drooling over Mitt Romney being with McCain near the top of the ticket. It might have helped bring more Republicans to the polls in Utah. Now, that's out the window. If Utah Republicans are disappointed, they're trying hard not to show it.
E-mail: hollenhorst@ksl.com
