Ohio Republican party chair Kevin DeWine responded to the news that Sen. John McCain has selected Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin as his vice-presidential running mate by saying Ohioans are "clearly energized and excited" about the pick.

"John McCain has proven himself once again as a bold reformer who's willing to shake up the status quo to get results," DeWine said. "Sarah Palin is a tough executive with a bipartisan record of accomplishment in shaking up government in her home state.  Her constituents love her, and she's getting job approval ratings higher than 80 percent.  That's the kind of leadership we need to fix Washington, and John McCain couldn't have picked a better running mate to help get it done. 

The Democrats will try to disparage this choice because they know it's a game changer.  John McCain has just picked a running mate with more executive experience than Barack Obama and Joe Biden combined.  That makes the Republican ticket a formidable, balanced team, and that has to make anyone in the Obama campaign very nervous."