Palin: We happened to fetch on an idea, a demographic, that I think was being sought by Alaskans: new blood, new faces, not any kind of good-old-boy network. ... This acceptance of a status quo in state government and this acceptance of turning a blind eye to some of the undue influence by some of the oil industry players.
And interesting, that’s what we see Barack, of course, campaigning on, which is intriguing to Alaskans and for the first time in decades, the Democratic presidential candidate is doing very well in polls in Alaska. This being such a red state, but yet Barack is doing well because his message is resonating very well in Alaska, as it is in the rest of the U.S.
RC: But, after all that, do you support Sen. John McCain?
Palin: McCain is on the right path with energy policy. ... We need a sound energy policy in this nation, especially as we are in a war and we are too reliant on foreign sources of energy.
Sen. McCain, I believe, will make wiser decision on how to tap those domestic supplies of energy than Barack.
RC: But what about Sen. McCain voting against the bill that included a provision to open up the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to explore drilling?
Palin: [Cites news clip that she says shows McCain is open to some oil exploration in Alaska.] That’s encouraging to hear that Sen. McCain could even grasp the need to plug in all these different parts of the major solution that need to be found to get us out of the energy crisis that we’re in.”
RC: Why is there such a schism in the Alaska Republican Party? Why is your administration at odds against every other Republican official in the state?
Palin: I think it’s going to take a little while for the hierarchy in the party [to realize] that it was a sincere desire on Alaskans part to see change. ... I think there’s still that reluctance to accept that change is here. ... It’s always been assumed that they’re in there forever and nobody’s ever going to challenge them.
And interesting, that’s what we see Barack, of course, campaigning on, which is intriguing to Alaskans and for the first time in decades, the Democratic presidential candidate is doing very well in polls in Alaska. This being such a red state, but yet Barack is doing well because his message is resonating very well in Alaska, as it is in the rest of the U.S.
RC: But, after all that, do you support Sen. John McCain?
Palin: McCain is on the right path with energy policy. ... We need a sound energy policy in this nation, especially as we are in a war and we are too reliant on foreign sources of energy.
Sen. McCain, I believe, will make wiser decision on how to tap those domestic supplies of energy than Barack.
RC: But what about Sen. McCain voting against the bill that included a provision to open up the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to explore drilling?
Palin: [Cites news clip that she says shows McCain is open to some oil exploration in Alaska.] That’s encouraging to hear that Sen. McCain could even grasp the need to plug in all these different parts of the major solution that need to be found to get us out of the energy crisis that we’re in.”
RC: Why is there such a schism in the Alaska Republican Party? Why is your administration at odds against every other Republican official in the state?
Palin: I think it’s going to take a little while for the hierarchy in the party [to realize] that it was a sincere desire on Alaskans part to see change. ... I think there’s still that reluctance to accept that change is here. ... It’s always been assumed that they’re in there forever and nobody’s ever going to challenge them.
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