McCain picks Alaska governor Sarah Palin for VP
29 Aug 2008
Quick on the heels of the Democratic convention that named Barack Obama as the Democratic presidential candidate, Republican presidential hopeful John McCain has selected 44-year old Alaska governor Sarah Palin to be the his running mate, making her the first ever woman to serve as the Republican vice presidential mate.
Palin, said to be the most popular governor in the US on account of delivering on her reforms plank, was elected to office in 2006 winning the Republican primary, overwhelmingly beating incumbent Republican Gov Frank Murkowksi for the party's nominations and then going on to defeat former Democrat governor Tony Knowles in the stae elections.
Analysts say the choice of Palin was at winning over the women supporters of defeated Democratic presidential hopeful, Hillary Rodham Clinton, wife of former US President Bill Clinton.
Strongly against abortion, she is acceptable to conservatives, and pro reforms that make her qualify her to be acceptable to liberals.
Palin is a mother of five, including one with special needs, born in April.