Perkins says Palin pick purely political

Tony Perkins, an influential conservative leader, said Wednesday that he viewed Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin's (R) selection as a "political" pick designed to win over the conservative base and appease social conservatives who had concerns about John McCain.

Perkins, the head of the Family Research Council, said that most conservatives he knew expressed "relief" that Republican presidential candidate McCain did not pick an abortion-rights supporter like Sen. Joe Lieberman (I-Conn.) or former Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Ridge as his running mate.

{mosads}Palin, on the other hand, was a "brilliant pick from a political standpoint" that helped McCain win over social conservatives.

Perkins, speaking to reporters at a breakfast hosted by The Christian Science Monitor, said the McCain he knows was more likely to pick someone he has known for a while and trusts, like Lieberman or Ridge.

When asked directly then if Perkins viewed Palin as a purely political pick, the religious right leader said, "Yeah, I think so.

"I think it was a very strategic and, in the end, political pick," Perkins said.

Perkins said he had conversations with the McCain campaign in the days leading up to the announcement of Palin, in which he communicated his concerns that the Arizona senator might pick Lieberman or Ridge, and he was "very pleased" with Palin.

Perkins also said that among conservatives he was with around the time of the announcement, "the initial response was relief."