Separated at birth?

By Chris Cassidy
STAFF WRITER

September 05, 2008 10:18 pm

—

By now, everyone knows her unlikely story.

She came from one of the most remote states in America. When she got older, she became a star on a championship-caliber women's basketball team, then pursued a career in politics.

After a few terms on the City Council, she became the first female in her community to be elected mayor — rising to power in a place that has snow and moose and a road to nowhere.

The latest stop on her political journey was a big-city arena to attend her party's recent national convention.

Ladies and gentlemen, the next vice president of the United States — Kim Driscoll?

"The resemblances are somewhat striking," local developer Bill Luster said of the Hawaiian-born Driscoll and Republican vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin from Alaska.

Both women are in their 40s with mayoral experience and a love for basketball. They also both have brown hair and brown eyes.

But wait, there's more.

Palin once supported "the bridge to nowhere."

Driscoll backed the "bypass road to nowhere."

Palin once worked as a sportscaster.

Driscoll hosts a regular show on Salem Access Television.

Palin is a champion of the religious right.

Driscoll's maiden name? Lord.

Palin is a hockey mom, which is like a pit bull with lipstick.

Driscoll is a soccer mom.

"We're more like golden retrievers," Driscoll said.

The night she was elected mayor, Driscoll waved her worn-out shoe in the air to demonstrate how much campaigning she had done.

Palin governs a state next to Russia, where Nikita Khrushchev once banged his shoe on a desk. Absurd? Possibly.

Then there is the wildlife.

Palin lives in an area with many moose.

Driscoll lives in an area with many Moose Lodge members.

The great divide between the two, however, is hunting.

"I've never seen Kim shoot wolf from a helicopter," said Luster, referencing the veep candidate's penchant for guns.

"I have no connection to moose whatsoever," Driscoll said. "Eating, hunting or even seeing."

So does Driscoll have a shot at the vice presidency in four years?

Sure, laugh.

But she did pick up a major endorsement yesterday.

"If she gets picked for vice president, I'll support her," said state Rep. John Keenan. "And then she can push for me to be attorney general."

As for the Palin/Driscoll similarities, one local jokester suggested the two just head to court.

"The only way to truly resolve this would be some one-on-one at Salem State between Sarah Palin and Kim Driscoll," said local attorney Jim Gilbert. "The mayor really needs to fire off that challenge to Sarah Palin. I think the smart money would be on the mayor. She might even spot her a point."

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