Deb Pryce 'ecstatic' over Palin pick

One of only two female Republican U.S. representatives in Ohio, Columbus' Deb Pryce said she couldn't me more happy with the selection of Gov. Sarah Palin (R-Alaska) as John McCain's vice presidential nominee.

"This was a wonderful surprise to me and the whole country. I don't know her well but from what I just saw in her first speech I'm ecstatic," Pryce said.

Pryce had high marks for Palin's speech.

"What I liked about it was her poise and her confidence. I think that's where everybody was waiting if she was the next Dan Quayle and clearly after seeing that, she's not," Pryce said, adding that the Palin pick is a "game changer."

Palin's selection has given the GOP it's opportunity to make history as the second major party to nominate a woman to its presidential ticket, after Geraldine Ferraro received the Democratic nomination for vice president in 1984 and Hillary Clinton nearly captured the Democratic presidential nomination this year.

"To her credit, Sarah mentioned Ferraro and Hillary in her comments," Pryce said. "It's wonderful that the Republican Party can grasp this sentiment in our country and hopefully be the ones to make history with it."

Pryce said the argument coming from the Obama campaign that Palin has insufficient experience to be vice president doesn't carry water.

"She has every bit as much [experience] as Barack Obama does and she has executive experience, which he has none of. His entire focus has been on running for higher office," Pryce said. "I think it's a very evenly split ticket on both sides: one green person and one veteran of politics on each ticket."

Pryce said Palin should go everywhere in Ohio after the convention.

"She should hit every place in Ohio head on. She has credentials that will welcome her in the far northeast - her husband is a union member, and she touted that in her address. She has great conservative credentials so she'll be welcomed in the real conservative heart land of our state."