Former CD-5 congressional candidate Kevin Mannix was ecstatic on Friday morning that Republican presidential candidate John McCain (R-Ariz.) chose Gov. Sarah Palin (R-Alaska) as his running mate.

“I think it’s a brilliant choice,” Mannix said. “She’s a state executive, she’s a reformer, she’s already got results, she’s old enough to have some experience, but young enough to be dynamic.”

Mannix also pointed out that the addition of Palin to the ticket brings in several unknown dynamics to the race. It’s the first time Republicans have run a female on the ticket. Palin, also being from the western-most state in the nation, will have that strong new west pioneering spirit, Mannix said.

“I think she’ll play really well because it’s sort of like the mavericks against the good old boys,” Mannix said.

As to if Palin will help to dig McCain out of a hole in the Oregon polls, Mannix said that her strong rhetoric and progressive conservatism will play well with Oregon’s unaffiliated voters.

“Let’s face it, today is John McCain’s 72nd birthday, and he had to show that he has someone to mentor to be the a future president,” Mannix said. “She will get independents. She’ll help him resonate with them.”

Mannix is an Oregon McCain delegate to the Republican National Convention, and he will get the opportunity to cast his vote for McCain next week in St. Paul.

Stay tuned to PolitickerOR.com for continuing coverage of the convention.