Tuesday, Nov. 24, 2009
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Dobson Endorses McCain In Wake of Palin Pick
Choice Of Alaska Governor Generates Enthusiasm Among Conservatives At Minneapolis Gathering
In a remarkable reversal, James Dobson, the influential founder of Focus on the Family, enthusiastically endorsed John McCain for president Friday afternoon in a response to McCain's choice of Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin as his running mate. "A lot of people were praying, and I believe Sarah Palin is God's answer," Dobson said at lunchtime meeting of conservative leaders in Minneapolis.
In February Dobson said, "I cannot, and will not, vote for Sen. John McCain, as a matter of conscience," dampening the flow of donations and volunteers to the McCain campaign from a key component of the Republican coalition.
"Conditions change, and they changed radically today," said Dobson. "I've not been so excited about a political candidate since Ronald Reagan."
"I've got a smile on my face that I can't take off," agreed former GOP senator Dan Coats. Coats said that on the way to the Minneapolis event, he saw crowds in the local airport cheering the McCain announcement. Before McCain announced his pick, "the passion was not there" among Republican voters, said Coats. They "don't want to vote for someone they don't agree with. They want to really be for somebody. That's what makes the campaign work." Coats predicted that with Palin on the ticket, "we'll see a flood of volunteers."
"The other things we're going to teach the American people about Sarah Palin is that she's not just a conservative, she's a proven reformer," said McCain advisor Charlie Black. Black praised Palin for tackling "somewhat widespread corruption in both parties," and said as governor she took on a "bipartisan Old Boy network and immediately moved to clean it up."
"Why not apply that same principle against Washington D.C.," Black asked. "Believe me. They're needed here too."
Black listed three benefits of adding Palin to the ticket.
First, unifying the base is critical for Republicans, who expect to have a smaller base then the Democrats in a year of soaring Democratic registrations. "I hope she will help us solidify the base once and for all," said Black.
"Also, there are at least 20 percent of behavioral Democrats that are available to John," he argued. In addition to Hillary Clinton's supporters, this group includes "conservative values-voters," Black said. "I'm confident that Governor Palin will help us do that."
Finally, Black expects Palin to help among political independents, because those voters are particularly focused on change and reform in Washington. For example, both McCain and Palin opposed the expensive "bridge to nowhere" in Alaska, Black pointed out. "What more appropriate ticket could you create than adding the governor who killed the 'Bridge to Nowhere?' I promise you'll hear more about that."
While vice-presidential nominees are not traditionally a major factor in voters decisions, Black predicted "the reinforcement of the McCain characteristics, credentials and agendas by this governor will help us win the presidency."
"There's a right kind of change and wrong kind of change ... and the American people will go for the right kind of change and elect the McCain-Palin ticket in November," he said.