McCain terms Palin `a reformer`, wants her help in Washington

Washington, Sept 1 (PTI) Republican White House hopeful Senator John McCain has termed his running mate Sarah Palin as "a reformer" who will help him reform Washington.

"She is a partner and a soul-mate. She is a reformer. I don't particularly enjoy the label 'maverick', but when somebody takes on the old bulls in her own party, runs against an incumbent governor of her own party. It is remarkable," said McCain.

The Senator said he had watched her record and her for many years during which she had implemented ethics and lobbying reforms.

"I have seen her take on her own party. One thing I know is that when you take on your own party in Washington, you pay a price for it. And she has taken on the party in her own state. She took on a sitting governor and defeated him," he added.

"I am so pleased and proud, because this is a person who will help me reform Washington and change the way they do business. And that is what Americans want. She has got the right judgement," Senator McCain said on Fox News.

Slamming his rival Democratic presidential hopeful Barack
Obama for not taking a position on issues related to his state
during his tenure in the Illinois State, McCain said "as
governor she has had enormous responsibilities, none of which
Senator Obama had.

"When she was in government,he was a community organiser.
When she was taking tough positions against her own party,
Senator Obama was voting 'present' 130 times in the state
legislature, on every tough issue whatever it was, while she
was taking them on. That's the kind of judgement that I'm
confident that we need in Washington," the Senator remarked.

He argued that the Governor of Alaska comes accomplished
on several fronts including her knowledge of foreign and
national security affairs and energy issues.

"She doesn't think, like Senator Obama does, that Iran is
a minor irritant. She knows that the surge worked and
succeeded, and she supported that. Senator Obama still to this
day refuses to acknowledge that the surge has succeeded," the
Senator maintained.

"She has had the judgement on these issues and Senator
Obama has had all the wrong judgements. And Governor Palin
understands these issues, and she understands the challenges
that we face. So she has had 12 years of elected office
experience, including travelling to Kuwait, including being
involved in these issues.

And look, I am so proud that she has displayed the kind
of judgement and experience as an executive. She has run a
huge economy up there in the state of Alaska. About 21 per
cent of our energy comes from the state of Alaska, and energy
is obviously one of the key issues for our nation's security,"
he added.

Meanwhile, Senator Obama declined to get into the debate
on how experienced Palin was for the job of the Vice President
which is considered a heartbeat away from the Presidency.

"I do not know Governor Palin, I have not met her
before. I had a brief conversation with her after she was
selected to congratulate her and wish her luck - but, not too
much luck! - on the campaign trial. And she seems to have a
compelling life story. Obviously, she's a fine mother and a
up-and-coming public servant," Obama said. "So, it's too early
for me to gauge what kind of running mate she'll be," Senator
Obama said in on CBS' Sixty Minutes.

"My sense is that she subscribes to John McCain's agenda.
And ultimately, this [election] is going to be about where I
want to take the country and where Joe Biden wants to take the
country, and where John McCain and his running mate want to
take the country," Senator Obama added.