Minority Leader Alex DeCroce: Politicker file photo 

MINNEAPOLIS - Landing in Minneapolis for the Republican National Convention, state Assembly Minority Leader Alex DeCroce (R-Parsippany-Troy Hills) said he was initially unhappy about John McCain’s selection for vice president.

But now he’s warming to Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, and in any case he’s delighted his rivals saw fit to party with embattled Bergen County Democratic Party Chairman Joseph Ferriero at the Democratic National Convention in Denver last week.

"If they’re that stupid to let him go, let them do it," said DeCroce. "It helps us."

If actions speak louder than words, then whether Republican presidential nominee John McCain says he supports and/or opposes affirmative action is irrelevant.

Conservatives denounce the practice as promoting under-qualified or unprepared people ahead of more qualified alternatives just for the purpose of diversity. Yet that is exactly what McCain is doing with his choice of Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin as his vice presidential running mate.

"It was rightly noted in Denver this week that Hillary left 18 million cracks in the highest, hardest glass ceiling in America," said Palin at a Saturday rally in Dayton, Ohio. "But thankfully, as it turns out, the women of America aren't finished yet, and the voters will shatter that glass ceiling once and for all."

Though the McCain campaign touts Palin as the answer for women eager to finally shatter the ultimate glass ceiling, nobody is arguing that she is the most-qualified person for the job -- not even her own mother-in-law.

"I'm not sure what she brings to the ticket other than she's a woman and a conservative," said Faye Palin. "Well, she's a better speaker than McCain."

Apparently, the GOP vice presidential nominee -- Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin -- has come as a huge surprise to Democrats.

How big of a surprise? Of the nine contenders listed on TheNextCheney.com, Palin is not among them.

To view more cartoons by Politicker.com editorial cartoonist Rob Tornoe, click here.

CONGRESSIONAL CANDIDATE ALAN BATEMAN (NJ-12) TODAY ANNOUNCED HIS INTRIGUE AND EXCITEMENT OVER SEN. MCCAIN'S CHOICE OF GOV. SARAH PALIN TO BE HIS RUNNING-MATE

Glading Strongly Supports Palin for VP

Citizen representative running for Congress
encouraged and inspired by reform governor
and her record of accomplishments

BARRINGTON – Dale Glading, candidate for U.S. Congress in New Jersey’s 1st District, announced today his strong and unconditional support of Governor Sarah Palin’s candidacy for Vice President of the United States.

“I couldn't be more thrilled with Senator McCain’s selection of Governor Palin to be his running mate,” Glading said. “She is a fiscal conservative who, as the mother of five, has consistently fought to uphold family values. Governor Palin understands what it’s like to have a son serving in the military, and she will be a strong defender of our national security. She is an especially effective spokesperson for energy independence, and a financial watchdog who isn’t afraid to use her veto pen when the people’s money is being misspent.”

Palin’s record of standing up to special interests and a corrupt political system makes her the perfect candidate to connect with New Jersey’s voters. As governor, Palin used her veto to combat excessive government spending and wasteful pork barrel programs.

Glading has been reaching out to the 1st District’s more than 200,000 women voters throughout his campaign for Congress, naming Gloucester Township mayor Cindy Rau-Hatton as his campaign chairperson and taking a strong stand in favor of increased funding for domestic violence programs.

Democratic State Chairman Joe Cryan said that he doesn’t know much about Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, but he doubts she’ll be able to draw in New Jersey Hillary Clinton supporters to John McCain’s ticket.

“I don’t know her well enough,” he said. “I haven’t seen much on her background, but it seems as if she’s a fundamentalist that’s out of touch with mainstream America.”

Lawrenceville, NJ - In response to Senator John McCain's choice of Alaska Governor Sarah Palin as his running mate, U.S. Senate candidate Dick Zimmer released the following statement commending McCain's decision:

Republican State Chairman Tom Wilson issued a statement today comparing John McCain’s new running mate to Gov. Jon Corzine.

“New Jersey is going to love Sarah Palin, She is everything that Jon Corzine isn’t. She is a straight talking fiscally conservative reformer who has fought corruption, attacked wasteful government and delivered real results. Like John McCain, she has a record of doing what’s right and working with those from both sides of the isle to deliver change and shake up the status quo,” he said. “When it comes to change the McCain Palin team hasn’t just talked the talk they’ve walked the walk.”

Republican Senate candidate Dick Zimmer and 7th District House candidate Leonard Lance, both social moderates, praised Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin for her fiscal conservatism.

Zimmer saluted her pork busting credentials in a statement.

"I think she is an excellent choice. As an effective reform governor, she brings important executive experience to the ticket. A strong fiscal conservative, she stood up against wasteful pork-barrel politics when she killed Alaska's infamous 'Bridge to Nowhere' that was promoted by Senator Ted Stevens and supported by Senator Frank Lautenberg,” he said. “Senator McCain made a brilliant decision by asking her to join the GOP ticket. I am very excited to be running with both of them in New Jersey."