DENVER-Dr. Dante Scala, UNH professor and PolitickerNH.com columnist, said the selection of Gov. Sarah Palin (R-Alaska) as a running mate a "smart risk."

"It's not a safe pick," Scala said. "Tim Pawlenty would have been a safe pick, Mitt Romney would have been a safer pick but it's a risk."

Scala said a downside to the pick is that she could be "this year's Dan Quayle" but added "bottome line it's a smart risk."

Scala said one benefit of the pick is that it could appeal to women voters who are still upset over U.S. Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-N.Y.) not becoming her party's presidential or vice-presidential nominee.

"One thing to watch in the next couple of weeks in the gender gap in New Hampshire polls," Scala said. "This is a place to watch if the pick has any affect."

Scala also argued that the Palin pick will increase the importance of the vice-presidential debate, where she will face off against U.S. Sen. Joe Biden (D-Del.).

"It does raise the stake for that vice-presidential debate," she said. "She's be going up against a much more experienced debater but it could have an upside, people might find that they like her better."