Sarah Palin

State Sen. Jennifer Beck (R-Red Bank) never predicted that Sarah Palin would be John McCain’s Vice-Presidential pick, but she was the only candidate she talked about.

I know this sounds crazy, but the only name I have mentioned to anybody is Gov. Palin. I actually talked about it at the women’s political caucus months ago. I brought up her name as a young woman that’s a Republican leader,” said Beck, who thinks that Palin provides a fresh face that will “make people take a second look at the Republican Party.”

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.

DENVER - Not allowing Democrats any daylight on the afternoon following Sen. Barack Obama’s (D-Ill.) Mile High Stadium acceptance speech, members of the New Jersey delegation celebrated their presidential candidate’s selection today of Gov. Sarah Palin.

Among those GOP politicians psyched about Palin is state Sen. Minority Leader Tom Kean, Jr., (R-Union).

"I think she’s a great pick," Kean said of Sen. John McCain's (R-Ariz) running mate. "She has executive experience, and she has been a reformer since the beginning of her career. I’ve been saying for days that she’d be a great pick. My wife and daughters are thrilled."

In praising Palin, the Republican took a jab at New Jersey Gov. Jon Corzine.

DENVER - It had to have been tough for state Sen. Joseph Kyrillos (R-Monmouth) to get the news that Gov. Sarah Palin would be the running mate of presumptive Republican presidential nominee Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz)..

It was Kyrillos, after all, who served as the point man for Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney’s presidential campaign in New Jersey, and the veteran state senator had hoped McCain would select Romney for vice president.

He has to learn more about Palin.

"Those of us who got to know Mitt - and there were many of us who got to know him - are obviously disappointed," said Kyrillos. "But it’s a very personal pick for Sen. McCain, and I’m looking forward to learning more about her and supporting the ticket."

Conservative activist Steve Lonegan, who’s returning from the Caribbean on a cruise ship, just caught wind that John McCain picked Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin for vice president.

His verdict: “I think it’s a terrific choice.”

That’s a strong endorsement coming from Lonegan, who has no qualms about making his dissatisfaction with mainstream Republicans public.

“I know she’s solidly pro-life. This woman is totally outspoken on the issues. She’s got an outstanding record of the governor. I think she’s attractive,” he said. “I think it’s going to unite the party from one end t the other. She’s going to bring excitement and energy."

Sen. Kevin O'Toole (R-Essex).: Politicker photo

DENVER - Sen. John McCain’s (R-Ariz) selection of Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin roused the fighting mood of state Sen. Kevin O’Toole, one of a handful of elected officials who has stood with McCain from the beginning of his presidential run.

"It’s a curve ball, which Democrats were not expecting, and it opens up a whole new constituency,"said O’Toole. "It is a stroke of brilliance."

Governor of the so-called Seward’s Folly since 2006, Palin is a pro-life fiscal hawk whose one-time Miss Alaska runner’s up face has been on the cover of Vogue.

After hearing the news that John McCain picked Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin as his running mate, State Sen. Diane Allen (R-Burlington) said that she was proud of how far women have come in politics.

She related a story of a recent trip to the Adirondaks with her seven year old grandson, Jackson. The two met a local woman State Senator named Betty Little. Jackson, knowing his grandmother was also a state senator, turned to Allen with a question.

“He looked at me with big eyes and said ‘Grandy, can boys ever be Senators?,” she said. “I thought women around the world have been waiting for this question.”

State Sen. Bill Baroni said that Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin is an “extraordinary choice” who will put New Jersey in play.

News reports this morning say McCain has tapped Palin, 44, as his running mate.

“Now with an 8 week campaign, we’ve got a great ticket that for New Jersey that obviously appeals to the blue collar voters,” said Baroni, the chairman of McCain’s New Jersey campaign. “Now we’re adding a conservative choice in Sarah Palin who appeals to New Jersey’s conservative and independent voters, men and women.”

And while Palin couldn’t come from a state more different than New Jersey, Baroni said that her ethics-based gubernatorial campaign and spats with Rep. Don Young (R-Ala.) will resonate with Garden State voters.