Palin Neither Here Nor There on Gambling

The surprise choice of Sarah Palin as the Republican vice-presidential candidate doesn't indicate either a pro- or anti-gambling shift in the party. As with her Democratic VP opponent, Joe Biden, Palin has never made any clear statement either for or against the legalization of gambling, but hasn't opposed pro-gambling initiatives in the state she governs - Alaska.

Conservative voice
More socially conservative than Republican presidential candidate John McCain, Palin is not the sort of candidate one would expect to be particularly pro-gambling. A born-again evangelical Christian and mother of five, McCain's running mate has made a name for herself since her election as Alaska governor in 2006 as a staunch conservative on issues such as abortion, gun control and crime.

Her selection was no doubt designed to attract the vote of the Republican rank-and-file, who could potentially have been alienated by McCain - a man who has developed a reputation as someone who opposes party traditionalists on key issues. The selection of a female could also attract swing voters put off by the non-selection of Hillary Clinton for either the Democratic presidential or vice-presidential nominations.

Lenience on gambling
Sarah Palin has not made any clear statement on gambling while Alaska governor, and in fact all the evidence points to some leniency on the matter.

She has opted to stay out of the ongoing debate on gambling expansion in the USA's second-youngest state, allowing legislation passed by the Alaska State Legislature to become enshrined in law without signing or vetoing them. (On that matter, Alaska voters last Tuesday rejected a ballot that would have created a Gaming Commission, meaning only state legislators can now implement gambling expansion).

Therefore, the evidence overall points to a Republican VP candidate who, while far from pro-gambling, will not do the gambling industry any more harm than has already been done by current federal legislators.