Alaska Governor Sarah Palin Chosen As McCain's Running Mate

Fri. August 29, 2008; Posted: 11:44 AM

(RTTNews) - Republican Presidential hopeful John McCain selected Alaska Governor Sarah Palin as his Vice Presidential nominee, the campaign announced Monday, in what some consider one of the more surprising choices for a running mate in history.

McCain made the announcement prior to a rally in Dayton, Ohio, one day after Illinois Senator Barack Obama became the Democratic Party's official nominee. The choice has shocked many, as it brings a relative-unknown into the national spotlight. Palin's nomination, like McCain's, will become official at the Republican National Convention next week.

"Governor Palin is a tough executive who has demonstrated during her time in office that she is ready to be president," the McCain campaign said in a statement. "She has brought Republicans and Democrats together within her Administration and has a record of delivering on the change and reform that we need in Washington."

However, McCain's choice of a female running mate ensures that, no matter the outcome of the election, the next presidential regime will be a historic one. Should Barack Obama win, the nation will see its first African American president. If McCain captures the White House, the U.S. will see its first female vice president.

The Alaskan governor becomes the second woman to run for vice president for a major political party, following Democrat Geraldine Ferraro's unsuccessful bid as Walter Mondale's running mate in 1984.

The choice of Palin, though surprising, could court some Democrats, as it may add appeal to the Republican ticket for women who supported Hillary Clinton's unsuccessful bid for the Democratic nomination. The choice is also consistent with the developing theme in the campaign of which candidate will be able to bring the most change to Washington D.C. at a time when the nation is largely upset with the status quo.

"Governor Palin has the record of reform and bipartisanship that others can only speak of," the statement read. "Her experience in shaking up the status quo is exactly what is needed in Washington today."

Palin is pro-life and supports in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. She is also a fiscal and social conservative and has enjoyed an 80 -90 percent approval rating as the governor of Alaska. At 44, she is a young and relatively unknown choice to the lower 48 states. However, in an election so much about change, the move could supply a fresh coat of paint for the McCain campaign, which Obama has charged represents an attempt to perpetuate the status quo.

Palin has served as Alaska Governor since 2006, when she upset the incumbent Governor Frank Murkowski in the Republican primary. Although she was born in Idaho, Palin's family moved to Alaska shortly after she was born. She graduated with a bachelor's degree in journalism and a minor in politics from the University of Idaho.

In Alaskan politics, Palin gained notoriety when she was appointed Ethics Commissioner of the Alaska Oil and Gas Conservation Commission in 2003. Her tenure at the post was short lived, however, as she resigned in 2004 in protest of what she saw as corruption in the Alaskan Republican Party.

"Governor Palin has challenged the influence of the big oil companies while fighting for the development of new energy resources," the McCain statement read. "She leads a state that matters to every one of us -- Alaska has significant energy resources and she has been a leader in the fight to make America energy independent."

She filed complaints against the former Alaska Republican Party Chairman Randy Ruedrich and former Alaska Attorney General Gregg Renkes following her resignation. They both resigned following the accusations. This echoes the McCain stand against earmarks, which they noted in the announcement.

"In Alaska, Governor Palin challenged a corrupt system and passed a landmark ethics reform bill," the statement read. "She has actually used her veto and cut budgetary spending," they added, noting her opposition to Senator Ted Stevens (R-AK | Quote | Chart | News | PowerRating) famous "bridge to nowhere."

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