Politics | Sarah Palin Palin Stunner: A Brilliant or Brutal Pick? McCain gets mixed reviews for bold choice on running mate By Kevin Spak Posted Aug 29, 2008 2:02 PM CDT Copied Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, right, answers questions during a news conference in this file photo. (AP Photo) John McCain certainly turned some heads by selecting Sarah Palin as his vice president. Here’s what people are saying: Given how perfectly Palin fits his needs, it’s surprising that this is so surprising, write Mark Grunwald and Jay Newton-Small of Time. McCain needed to prove he was independent, but also socially conservative, while also appealing to women. Tah-dah! Andrew Sullivan finds the pick revealing: McCain doesn’t think he can win without disgruntled Clinton voters. It’s a striking pick, but ultimately a weak one, says Josh Marshall of Talking Points Memo. Palin is embroiled in scandal right now, and even less qualified than Obama. John Farrell of US News thinks Palin is a brilliant pick, who will make Democratic strategists “retch with worry.” But he warns that the relative unknown could turn out to be a disaster—like then-unknown Dan Quayle in 1988. Read These Next Police say a woman with 100+ prior arrests fatally struck a musician. The US just made a big move against Venezuela. Audio from when an off-duty pilot tried to down plane reveals chaos. Huge funds raised for Cinnabon worker filmed in racist tirade. Report an error