Originally published August 29, 2008, 12:14 p.m. EST. Updated August 29, 2008, 12:14 p.m. EST
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AP
**FILE** First-term Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin talks in her office in Anchorage, Alaska in a Thursday Aug. 14, 2008 file photo. Palin bas bee named as a possible wild-card candidate for John McCain's vice presidential choice. (AP Photo/Al Grillo, File)
DENVER (AP) - John McCain tapped little-known Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin to be his vice presidential running mate on Friday in a startling selection on the eve of the Republican National Convention._
Two senior campaign officials disclosed McCain's decision a few hours before the Republican presidential nominee-to-be and his newly-minted running mate appeared at a rally in swing-state Ohio.
Palin, like McCain, is a conservative with a maverick streak who has shown a willingness to clash with others in her own party. A self-styled hockey mom and political reformer, she has been governor of her state less than two years.
Palin's selection shocked numerous Republican officials.
At 44, Palin is a generation younger that Sen. Joseph Biden of Delaware, who is Barack Obama's running mate on the Democratic ticket.
She is three years Obama's junior, as well — and McCain has made much in recent weeks of Obama's relative lack of experience in foreign policy and defense matters.
In making his pick, McCain passed over several more prominent prospects who had figured in speculation for months — Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, former Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Ridge and Connecticut Sen. Joe Lieberman among them.
Palin flew overnight to an airport in Ohio near Dayton, and even as she awaited her formal introduction, some aides said they had believed she was at home in Alaska.
She is a former mayor of Wasilla who became governor of her state in December 2006 after ousting a governor of her own party in a primary and then dispatching a former governor in the general election.
More recently, she has come under the scrutiny of an investigation by the Republican-controlled legislature into the possibility that she ordered the dismissal of Alaska's public safety commissioner because he would not fire her former brother-in-law as a state trooper.
The timing of McCain's selection appeared designed to limit any political gain Obama yields from his own convention, which ended Thursday night with his nominating acceptance speech before an estimated 84,000 in Invesco Field in Colorado.
Public opinion polls show a close race between Obama and McCain, and with scarcely two months remaining until the election, neither contender can allow the other to jump out to a big post-convention lead.
McCain has had months to consider his choice, and has made it clear to reporters that one of his overriding goals was to avoid a situation like the one in 1988, when Dan Quayle was thrown into a national campaign with little preparation.
Palin has a long history of run-ins with the Alaska GOP hierarchy, giving her genuine maverick status and reformer credentials that could complement McCain's image.
Two years ago, she ousted the state's Republican incumbent governor, Frank Murkowski in the primary, despite having little money and little establishment backing.
She has also distanced herself from two senior Republican office-holders, Sen. Ted Stevens and Rep. Don Young. Both men are under federal corruption investigations.
She had earned stripes — and enmity — after Murkowski made her head of the Alaska Oil and Gas Conservation Commission. From that post, she exposed ethical violations by the state GOP chairman, also a fellow commissioner.
She and her husband Todd Palin, have five children. The latest, a baby, was born with Down syndrome.
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August 29, 2008
1:26 p.m.Report inappropriate content
John McCain may think that Alaska governor Sarah Palin will help him pick off the Hillary voters, but the fact that she went back to work in April three days after giving birth to a premature baby with Downs' Syndrome has already got women buzzing on the web with questions about her judgment and priorities. Obviously 2008 is a lot different from 1992, when Hillary, who wasn't even running for office, was heavily criticized for her decision to pursue a career after having a child. But even in these more enlightened times, women on both sides of the political spectrum may frown on Palin's decision to hit the national campaign trail at this particular time of her life. (And of course, we'll all be wondering: will she bring her breast pump?)
August 29, 2008
4:55 p.m.Report inappropriate content
What a chauvinistic sexist remark that was. Disgruntled Hillary supports have already gone over to McCain, this is just the icing on the cake. Nobama just lost the Nov election, deal with it!
August 29, 2008
5:19 p.m.Report inappropriate content
Well, my hope of an election based on important issues may be down the drain again, if the above comments are an indication of things to come. Breasts and breast pumps? Cookies and the dark side? It's already looking like a campaign ordeal until November, centered around male/female, black/white, young/old, veteran/non-veteran, obedient party loyalty, even returning to work after giving birth. I hope, somewhere in all of this, there will be some time devoted to issues that matter. If I was facing quadruple by-pass surgery, and looking for the best cardiologist I could find, I couldn't care less if he or she was young, old, black, white, or even if she had just had a baby. If those things are irrelevent when selecting the best possible surgeon to run the operation, why do they matter when selecting a person to run the country? Would Sarah Palin be a fantastic or a horrible Vice-President? Hint...the answer has nothing to do with breast feeding.
August 29, 2008
8:11 p.m.Report inappropriate content
Very well statedd article1section8!!!!!!!!!!!!!!But, alas, I am afraid that is what this country has come to....a soap opera. I never did like soaps....makes me not even want to vote, but I will. I have been doing some research today on Ms. Palin, so I can make my own judgement based on what I hope I read are facts. Parties don't really matter to me; just who can do the job to better the American Dream for our children/grandchildren. "It's A Sad Sad World".
August 29, 2008
8:44 p.m.Report inappropriate content
I like sparrow's last sentence & hope it plays out that way.
article1section8..also, your last sentence carries much weight. The example you gave about by-pass surgery brings to thought the health care program Obama keeps talking about. Currently most people can make the choise which doctor they wish to see. If Obama is elected, his administration will remake our health care system in the image of the government-run socialized health care systems of Europe. you won't have the choices you enjoy now. You will be told which doctor you can see and when you can see them. Now, in most cases, you can see a doctor in a few hours or a day or two,depending on the circumstances. That will change under the government health care system of Barack Obama. Again, under Obama's plan you might not be able to see a doctor for 2-3 weeks or longer, unless it's an emergency. This is something to think about. I tend not to look at black/white, Male/female, or young/old but the issues should be the focus. This is just one of the issues.
August 29, 2008
9:28 p.m.Report inappropriate content
The kind of voter mentality that has been exhibited here is exactly the reason this country is in so much trouble and exactly why Nobama is the Dem. nominee.
August 30, 2008
6:59 a.m.Report inappropriate content
SC presidential elections are irrelevant since Nixon and Thurmond agreed in 1971 to keep federal civil rights enforcement out of the South. We may busy ourselves by chatting on about the flaws of one candidate or another, the truth is that it will take one full generation to wipe out the biased legacy of that alliance. Over here, all Republicans are good and all Democrats are bad. I believe it is referred to as "Traditional Values". Funny, since the current federal administration did not consider our textile jobs worth protecting from Chinese subsidized imports.
I've heard folks say there is nothing the government can do. If we can destroy any nation on the planet, I'm sure one of these fine politicians can look after the loyal SC workers who have supported them all this time. Think clearly, and look at your neighbors. WE are your people, not the party.
August 30, 2008
8:40 a.m.Report inappropriate content
Oldsouth is right on the money. Also, if you add up all the money that would be needed to implement Bee Ooh's promises, you come up with more zeros than I can count on my two hands! You can tax the so called "rich" to the hilt, levy additional taxes on the oil industry all you want and you still won't come up with the billions of $'s needed. Where would the remainder come from? Right out of our pockets!
August 30, 2008
2:51 p.m.Report inappropriate content
"Disgruntled Hillary supports have already gone over to McCain, this is just the icing on the cake. "
Yes, Sparrow, you are exactly right. Women are so stupid that they disregard everything and will vote for anyone with a va-jay-jay.