Billings: Palin balances the ticket

Dan Billings, a Waterville attorney and Republican activist, said that while Gov. Sarah Palin brings balance to the Republican ticket with John McCain, people still will vote for the top of the ticket, not the Vice Presidential pick.

If she came to Maine to campaign, however, residents would relate to her.

“Gov. Palin in Alaska has done a lot of things Barack Obama claims he wants to do,” Billings said, such as working across the aisle and getting past presidential politics.

“Most people she’s had problems with in Alaska are Republicans,” he added.

Billings said he was a little surprised to see the Alaska governor added to the ticket. He expected former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney or Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty.

“Gov. Palin sits very well with the kind of Republicans who have been successful in this state,” Billings said.

Billings said gender isn’t an issue for most. “If gender is an issue in someone’s choice, the fact that there’s a female on the ticket might make an impact,” he said. “But most people aren’t making their choice on that.”

The pick does take away from the Democrats’ thunder of having a diverse ticket, however, Billings said.

“Our ticket isn’t two old white guys either,” Billings said. “It’s an unusual choice that independent and moderate voters may be attracted to, and more likely to take a second look at McCain.