Report: Palin concern grows in GOP

WASHINGTON, Sept. 26 (UPI) -- Concern is growing among Republicans and conservatives over U.S. vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin's performance in media interviews, Politico said Friday.

At the same time, the report quoted an unnamed official in John McCain's presidential campaign as saying that Palin "did fine" in her interview with CBS News anchor Katie Couric.

"She's a tremendous asset and a fantastic candidate," the campaign official said of the Alaska governor.

However, Politico noted, conservative columnist Kathleen Parker -- identified in the report as a former Palin supporter -- wrote that Palin should step aside as McCain's running mate. In the conservative National Review, political analyst Kathryn Jean Lopez wrote that it was not "a crazy suggestion" for Palin to step aside and said "something's gotta change."

GOP strategist Tony Fabrizio told Politico Palin's CBS interview -- which received largely negative reviews for her comments on the proposed financial markets bailout and her contention that Alaska's proximity to Russia bolsters her foreign policy experience -- was alarming.

"You can't continue to have interviews like that and not take on water," he said.

Republican strategist Chris Lacivita said he has not "been blown away" by Palin's interviews "but at the same time I haven't come away from them thinking she doesn't know s--t."

"But she ain't Dick Cheney, nor Joe Biden and definitely not Hillary Clinton," he said.