Local political leaders agree that Republican presidential candidate John McCain's choice of Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin as his running mate is a good strategy to win over former supporters of Hillary Clinton.

Alex Smith, chairman of the Penn State College Republicans, said Palin is a great choice, both in terms of policy and to gain support of undecided voters formerly in support of Clinton.

"The fact that she's a woman might help sway some of the Hillary supporters over," Smith said, adding, "She's pro-life, so that helps the conservative base."

Sean Leonard, former president of Penn State Students for Hillary, said McCain's choice scared him, adding that his goal of gaining the votes of Clinton supporters just might work.

"The Republican Party thinks this election is a game," Leonard said. "A few hours ago, we were sitting pretty and had nothing to lose. And now, a couple hours later, we have everything to lose."

In her remarks to the Dayton, Ohio crowd this afternoon, Palin cited the historic achievements of Rep. Geraldine Ferraro, D-N.Y., the Democratic nominee for vice-president in 1984, and Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-N.Y.

"It was rightly noted in Denver this week that Hillary Clinton left 18 million cracks in the highest, hardest glass ceiling in America," she said. "But it turns out the women of America aren't finished yet, and we can shatter that glass ceiling once and for all."

Shauna Shames, a Ph.D. student at Harvard University and a member of the National Organization for Women's board of directors, said McCain's choice of Palin is a shrewd political move.

"I think he's trying to get Hillary Clinton supporters, and he's being very smart about it," Shames said. "Women have the potential to be the swing this time."

Palin's gender aside, the Obama-Biden ticket is the better choice for women, Shames said.

"I hope [women] will see it as a political maneuver and think about the policies and not just the symbolism here," she said. "Obama's positions and Biden's positions are so much better for women even if McCain has a woman on the ticket."