The Reform Candidate?

[RedEarth]

ANCHORAGE — Plenty of voters are trying to figure out what to make of the national newcomer Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, Sen. John McCain’s pick for vice president. Even seasoned politicos were puzzled by the choice, as they listened to the little-known Alaskan stumping with veteran McCain in Ohio and Missouri these last few days.

Watching Palin, a self-described “hockey mom,” speak in the Midwest does not capture her true persona — personal or political. To fully understand her, she needs to be placed in her element — where her politics makes sense. This means: in her home state of Alaska.

I covered Alaska for TPMmuckraker, and I continue to follow the state’s scandal-ridden political system. The Washington Independent was convinced that coverage from Alaska would help explain Palin’s story, so I am here to explore who she is and what sort of vice president she would make.

I landed Sunday afternoon in Anchorage, a city that has an international airport named for its senior U.S. senator, Ted Stevens. He was just indicted on charges that he failed to disclose gifts worth hundreds of thousands of dollars from a local oil services company — including a new first story for his home.

Callers on the conservative talk radio show I listened to on the drive to my hotel were thrilled at McCain’s choice. Palin is a conservative Alaskan’s conservative — pro-gun and pro-drilling. She’s viewed as an anti-corruption candidate in a state that’s seen nine public corruption indictments in the last two years — all for ties to Veco Corp., the same oil services company as Stevens. Several Alaskans touted her ability to turn her back on the old guard, which clearly still has its fans. I saw a spattering of “Stevens 08″ signs on Anchorage front lawns on the same drive.

http://www.washingtonindependent.com/3671/the-reform-candidate