Palin stirs excitement and concern in Roanoke

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By Candice Nelson
WSLS10 Reporter
Published: August 29, 2008

Walking on the back quad at Roanoke College, organizations are recruiting freshmen for the new school year. The Roanoke College Republicans and Democrats decorate with red, white, and blue and hand out signs for their presidential candidate. It’s where the name, Sarah Palin, is making the rounds. On Friday, John McCain announced Alaska’s Governor Palin will be his running mate. She will be the first woman nominated for the position as a Republican.

Owen Thompson is in the College Republicans.

“I’m hoping she’ll add some conservatism to the ticket. Hopefully I’ll find out she’s a little more conservative than McCain,” he said.

Some of the Roanoke College Democrats and Republicans question Palin’s experience. Ten On Your Side talked to a political science professor at Hollins University, Dr. Ed Lynch. He says Palin has good qualifications.

“When it comes to experience, it’s a peculiar Washington belief that if you don’t have Washington experience, nothing else counts, like being the governor of the largest state in the union,” Lynch said.

Some Republicans predict Hillary supporters could come to their side, voting for a woman. Not so, says Lynch.

“Hillary Clinton supporters were not looking for a woman, they were looking for a liberal. Sarah Palin is most decidedly not a liberal. She’s pro-life, conservative, pro oil-drilling,” Lynch said.

Hillary supporter, Savannah Harms, agrees. She says she’ll stay an Obama fan.

“Hopefully this doesn’t turn into another aspect of the McCain Camp to make themselves look better through a superficial way. But I’m really excited that women are involved in politics in 2008,” Harms said.

Lynch calls it a close race before Palin was in the mix, and says it still will be.

“I don’t know that it changes a whole lot, but it does complete the ticket. Americans now know exactly what the choice is before them in November,” he said.

Either way, it’s a choice that will still make American history.