McCain reveals VP pick

Metro Atlanta

McCain reveals VP pick

Republican presidential candidate John McCain announces Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin as his choice for vice president.

On Friday, Republican presidential candidate, Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz. announced his vice presidential running mate as Republican Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin.

At a raucous rally in the swing state of Ohio, McCain introduced Palin as the political partner "who can best help me shake up Washington and make it start working again for the people who are counting on us."

Palin has a strong anti-abortion record, and her selection was praised warmly by social conservatives whose support McCain needs to prevail in the campaign for the White House.

Palin referred favorably to Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, who drew 18 million votes in her unsuccessful run against Obama for the Democratic nomination. "But it turns out the women of America aren't finished yet and we can shatter that glass ceiling once and for all," Palin said.

"I am honored," Palin said moments later in her first turn in the national spotlight. "There is only one candidate who has truly fought for America and that man is John McCain," she said as the Arizona senator beamed. McCain was a prisoner of war for more than five years in Vietnam.

Sarah Heath Palin, 44, is the current governor of Alaska and the youngest person and first woman ever elected to that office. Previously, she served as a city councilman and mayor of Wasilla, Alaska. She is the mother of five children.

On his 72nd birthday, McCain chose a 44-year-old running mate who until recently was the mayor of small-town Wasilla, Alaska -- and made no claim she was ready to sit in the Oval Office.

In its formal announcement, the campaign pointed to Palin's powers as head of the Alaska National Guard and the mother of a soldier herself as evidence that she "understands what it takes to lead our nation."

Palin, a self-styled hockey mom and political reformer, 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.

In high school, Palin was the point guard on a state championship basketball team. She was first runner-up in the 1984 Miss Alaska pageant which helped her attend the University of Idaho where she earned a degree in journalism.

After college, she worked as a TV sports reporter and met her future husband, Todd Palin, part Yup'ik Eskimo, and a blue-collar North Slope oil worker who competes in the Iron Dog, a 1,900-mile snowmobile race.

Palin has built her political career in large measure by taking on fellow Republicans.

Palin was greeted by an energetic and zealous crowd.

The day started early Friday morning as Dayton's Nutter Center began to fill up with crowds anticipating McCain's visit and his VP announcement.

Charles and Carole Arnett, of Union, OH, wait in anticipation for McCain and the newly-announced VP pick, Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin.

Penny Wolf, of Dayton, waits in line outside the Nutter Center to see McCain and Palin.

Crowds started arriving early to see the duo --even though the VP's identity was a mystery.

On Thursday, John McCain, U.S. senator from Arizona and Republican presidential candidate, (left) and his wife Cindy arrived in Dayton, Ohio.

McCain told the press he had already made his vice presidential pick on Thursday but chose to keep the choice a guarded secret.

Instead, he planned a high-stakes announcement Friday at Dayton's Nutter Center.

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On Friday, Republican presidential candidate, Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz. announced his vice presidential running mate as Republican Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin.

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