Doherty still not crazy about McCain ticket

While some local conservatives have praised John McCain’s choice of Alaska Governor Sarah Palin for Vice President, Assemblyman Michael Doherty isn’t thrilled politically or ideologically.

“Alaska is firmly in the Republican ranks, I’m sure. Just speaking through politics, I think it would make sense to pick somebody from a large state who may actually help to get you to 270,” he said.

Doherty, one of the most conservative Assemblymen, said that from a purely political standpoint Mitt Romney would have been a good choice, since he would make Michigan more competitive.

On the ideological front, Doherty was never a fan of McCain’s or any of the establishment Republican presidential candidates. He was the only New Jersey legislator to back Texas Rep. Ron Paul for President.

Doherty said he'll need to reserve judgment on Palin until he learns where she stands on foreign policy.

“I don’t know what she brings to the table regarding that issue. We’ll have to see. But that’s the issue that has a long of us Republicans shaking our heads and wondering what’s the real agenda here. Is it really in the national security interests of the U.S.,” said Doherty, who has concerns about the U.S.’s involvement in the Russian/Georgian conflict.

“If I vote for McCain, it will be holding my nose. It will just be more of the same and contrary to why I supported Ron Paul to begin with. People may mock me and say I’m crazy, but you know what, people are coming around to that way of thinking.”