AK’s Palin

My husband and I volunteered on Palin’s Alaska campaign when she ran for Governor.  Here are a few of my thoughts:

First: I have known Sarah Palin for years.  How?  I met her through AK Right to Life.  She always came to our fund-raising dinners, she always came to pro-life events (even when she took time off from politics to be home with her children), and one of her kids became AK RTL’s baby mascot for our stationery.  She is the real deal when it comes to pro-life matters.  This became even more clear when at the age of 44 of this year, she gave birth to a baby with Down’s Syndrome.  BTW: No one knew she was pregnant until 1 month before giving birth!

Second: She worked under previous (Catholic-pro-life) Governor Frank Murkowski’s Admin and ended up resigning because the corruption was so blatant and so bad she could not effect change.  She gave up her 6 figure income to do so.  This catapulted her into stardom for Alaskans.

Third: When she ran for Governor, she was up against the incumbent Murkowski (the least popular Governor in the nation at the time) AND against two-time former super popula,r Governor Democrat Tony Knowles.  Husband and I both had deep respect for her so we decided to join her campaign.  We were not the only ones.  I have worked many a campaign before and this was the first time in my experience where normal, average, non-partisan types joined the campaign.  When I decided to wave signs for her on street corners (with my baby strapped on my back), I was blown away by the hundreds of other Alaskans who had the same idea.

Fourth: When she ran for Governor, the AK Republican Party threw fundraisers for Palin’s Democratic rival!  No joke!  They hated her because she was the one who blew the whistle on their corruption.   Big Oil hates her because she refused and refuses to be bribed.  She had very little campaign money and her very few tv ads always said “Frugally paid for by the Palin Campaign.”  Yet, she won, sweeping the State.

Fifth: I worked the polls on voting day and Democrats, Independents and non-voters alike came to vote for her.

My advice:  Don’t underestimate her, my friends.

Last night my husband and I were convinced we would support Obama.  Thanks to McCain’s VP choice, we don’t know now.

Update:Here is a good post by fellow Alaskan liberal blogger Steve.  He does a great job looking at this from an objective perspective.  Read the comments, too!