Conservatives Want Palin to Be Given Role in Shaping McCain's Social Agenda

If elected vice president, Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin should be given the role in a McCain administration of helping to form the social agenda and weighing in on judicial picks, a key conservative leader told reporters today.

Panning current Vice President Dick Cheney's role on those issues, Family Research Council President Tony Perkins said that he expects Palin to be an activist on social and morals issues, especially those that deal with education and special-needs children.

"I certainly could see her filling that role," said Perkins, calling domestic policy her "strong suit."

But he backed away from listing specific issues that he wants her to push as vice president. Instead, he just hopes that she gets a seat at the table when issues she is passionate about are discussed. "Part of it is just being at the table, shaping the message," he said. "I'd like to see her engaged."

Perkins also dismissed concerns of the competing roles of mother and politician, saying that she has proved she can do both.

And in a joking aside, he took note of her ability to hunt. "I hope as vice president, she is a little better hunter than our current vice president," said Perkins.