This evening, the Missouri Democratic Party sent out the following statement:

“The choice of Sarah Palin is a transparent and desperate attempt to convince voters hungry for real change that John McCain would provide something other than four more years of George Bush’s policies,” said Jack Cardetti, Missouri Democratic Party spokesman.  

 ”The choice of Palin can’t cover up the fact McCain has opposed legislation to help women seeking equal pay for equal work or McCain’s opposition to funding programs to stop violence against women,” Cardetti said. 

“Maybe she can tell John McCain why it was wrong to vote against funding child care for working mothers or why it was wrong for McCain to suggest that women don’t deserve equal pay as men, just more education.”

  ”In this rare case we agree with Roy Blunt, who recently told reporters he thinks the Republican VP has to be someone with extensive experience,” Cardetti said.

Meanwhile, U.S. Sen. Claire McCaskill, D-Mo., offered this take:

“While it’s great to have a woman  on the national ticket, this is not the right woman to be a heartbeat away from the Presidency. Most women in America disagree with Gov. Palin on the issues and the last thing we need is another Big Oil Republican in Washington DC.”