Countdown to McCain VP: Is It Palin? Update: Why, Yes It Is

He could do a lot worse. At least she's a full blown conservative Republican.

Tim Pawlenty says he's out. Same for Romney. Leaving us with a relatively obscure, for now, Governor of Alaska.

John McCain kept his vice presidential pick a closely guarded secret hours before the high-stakes announcement Friday as a top prospect, Gov. Tim Pawlenty, seemed to scratch his name from the list.

"I'm not going to be there. I plan to be at the state fair. You can draw your conclusion from that," Pawlenty said on his weekly call-in radio show on WCCO-AM in Minneapolis. He also called it "a fair assumption" that he will not be McCain's running mate.

Associates close to former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney were saying the same thing, telling The Associated Press that the former presidential candidate had not been offered the job by McCain.

As the political community turned desperate for any clues, speculation moved toward several darkhorse candidates including Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, the so-called "hockey mom" credited with reforms of her out-of-the-way state.

A Gulfstream IV from Anchorage, Alaska, flew into Middletown Regional Airport in Butler County near Cincinnati about 10:15 p.m. Thursday, said Rich Bevis, airport manager. He said several people came off the plane, including a woman and two teens, but there was no confirmation of who was aboard.

"They were pretty much hustled off. They came right down the ramp, jumped in some vans here and off they went," Bevis said. "It was all hush, hush."

Still, more mystery.

We'll know soon enough.

Update: Sure enough, meet Sarah Palin.


Ed Morrissey has the analysis.

With multiple media outlets confirming now that Governor Sarah Palin will indeed join the Republican ticket as John McCain’s running mate, McCain has clearly chosen to play offense rather than defense. Instead of a safe choice, such as closest runner-up Mitt Romney or genial Everyman Tim Pawlenty, McCain took some risk with a relative newcomer to national politics. Palin will inject risk, excitement, controversy, and an unexpected historic note to the Republican convention.

Ace likes the pick, for obvious reasons.

Michelle Malkin is impressed.

Update: It's hard to imagine a more petty reaction from Obama.

Barack Obama's campaign is blasting John McCain for putting "the former mayor of a town of 9,000 with zero foreign policy experience a heartbeat away from the presidency."

The scathing description of Sarah Palin, from Obama spokesman Bill Burton, comes as Democrats scramble to gather a response to a selection that nobody in the political world expected.

"Governor Palin shares John McCain's commitment to overturning Roe v. Wade, the agenda of Big Oil and continuing George Bush's failed economic policies -- that's not the change we need, it's just more of the same," added Burton.

Via Ed Morrissey again.

More reaction here. Mark Levin approves.

She's being very well received.

Update: Whoops. Damage control time from a bitter Team Obama.

Barack Obama and Joe Biden issued a joint statement a few moments ago welcoming Sarah Palin to the WH contest:

“We send our congratulations to Governor Sarah Palin and her family on her designation as the republican nominee for Vice President. It is yet another encouraging sign that old barriers are falling in our politics. While we obviously have differences over how best to lead this country forward Governor Palin is an admirable person and will add a compelling new voice to this campaign."

Sorry. You blew it the first time, assholes.