Alaska Governor Chosen as McCain VP Pick
Associated Press
2008-08-29 09:58:15.0
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John McCain has tapped little-known Alaska Governor Sarah Palin to be his running mate on the eve of the Republican National Convention.
In an announcement, the campaign says that Palin, who has been governor less than two years, "has the record of reform and bipartisanship that others can only speak of."
The campaign goes on to say: "Her experience in shaking up the status quo is exactly what is needed in Washington today."
McCain is introducing his running-mate at a rally in Ohio.
She was chosen over several more prominent prospects including Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty, former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney and former Pennsylvania Governor Tom Ridge.
Palin a `hockey mom' - and maverick Republican
Like John McCain, Alaska Governor Sarah Palin is a conservative with a maverick streak who has shown willingness to clash with others in her own party.
A self-styled hockey mom and political reformer, Palin is a first-term governor who's held the job for less than two years.
The 44-year-old Palin is a former mayor of Wasilla who became governor in December 2006. She has a national reputation for bucking her party's establishment and Alaska's powerful oil industry.
More recently, Palin has come under the scrutiny of an investigation by the Republican-controlled legislature. It's looking into the possibility that Palin ordered the dismissal of Alaska's public safety commissioner because he would not fire her former brother-in-law as a state trooper.
She and her husband, Todd Palin, have five children. The latest was born last April with Down syndrome.
The Palins have said there was never any doubt they would have the child -- after learning in the fourth month of pregnancy that the boy had Down syndrome. Governor Palin said: "We've both been very vocal about being pro-life."
(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
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