Palin may help GOP in battleground states

WASHINGTON, Sept. 7 (UPI) -- The popularity of Republican U.S. vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin seems likely to help the GOP ticket in key battleground states, strategists say.

When Republican presidential nominee Sen. John McCain of Arizona chose Alaska Gov. Palin as his running mate, he energized social conservatives in key states such as Ohio and Pennsylvania, which Democratic opponent Sen. Barack of Obama of Illinois needs to win, The New York Times reported Sunday.

Strategists told the Times that until Palin's selection, such conservatives were giving McCain only lukewarm support at best.

The surge in support from social conservatives probably won't be enough to win the presidential election for McCain, the strategists told the Times. But Palin's addition to the ticket seems likely to at least ensure the conservatives' support, something GOP needed to at least be competitive with Obama, the newspaper said.