Former Ohio congressman applauds McCain's pick

By KANTELE FRANKO

Associated Press Writer

DAYTON, Ohio (AP) -- A southwest Ohio politician once listed with Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin among the dark horse contenders for GOP vice presidential candidate commended John McCain's surprise choice Friday.

Former congressman Rob Portman said Palin, 44, has great potential to draw votes to the ticket in Ohio and other swing states because of her experience dealing with taxes, health care and other kitchen-table issues as a mother of five and a state executive.

"Gov. Palin understands those issues as a governor. Certainly her experience in Alaska makes her an expert on energy," Portman said. "But I think it's as important to people that she understands those issues as a mom, and as a former PTA member, and a former city council member."

Palin's presence on the ticket could attract people who otherwise might not vote Republican this year, including independent voters, disaffected Hillary Clinton supporters, and those who weren't planning to vote at all, Portman said.

Portman, who was President Bush's budget chief until last year, was at the rally in Dayton where McCain introduced his running mate choice.

So was Lori Viars, a conservative activist in southwest Ohio.

"I'm just deliriously happy," Viars said. "She is so pro-life, she's pro-family, she's a Christian conservative ... she's well-rounded and she's strong on the issues."

Viars said the choice should energize some social conservatives who have had qualms about McCain.

McCain's decision also won praise from Ohio Republicans such as U.S. Sen. George Voinovich and Bob Bennett, state GOP chairman. Portman pointed to the tightly held secret as evidence of McCain's successful management style.

Kate DeRaedt, 38, didn't know anything about Palin before the rally at Wright State University's Nutter Center.

"She's such an alternative to Hillary," DeRaedt, a Republican from Toledo, said afterward. "Hillary seems hard, to me at least, and this woman seems like she's very strong but soft."

Her mother, Mary Joe DeRaedt, was impressed with Palin's ability to successfully juggle parenthood and her political career.

"I think she's a real gutsy lady," she said.

Both said the relative youthfulness of Palin will help invigorate McCain's campaign and shouldn't be mistaken for a lack of experience.

But Doug Kelly, Ohio's Democratic Party executive director, didn't agree with that assessment.

"John McCain's entire campaign has been based on the argument that experience matters, but Sarah Palin doesn't have any," Kelly said in a statement. "Today's announcement was an act of political desperation by the McCain campaign, but it does not alter the fact that the Republican ticket promises Ohioans more of the same."

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Associated Press reporter Dan Sewell in Cincinnati contributed to this report.