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THE CANDIDATE FOR VICE PRESIDENT: SARAH PALIN: REPUBLICAN

JULIANN VACHON

November 2, 2008

John McCain shocked the nation when he announced little-known Sarah Palin, the first female governor of Alaska and former beauty queen, would be his vice presidential running mate.

Palin's burst onto the national political scene energized the Republican base and she quickly became known as a feisty "hockey mom" who throughout her short political life was known as a reformer not afraid to take on the good old boys of politics.

But what started with a bang quickly turned into an uphill climb for the McCain-Palin ticket as a rigorous vetting process by the media revealed ongoing ethics investigations in her home state. An interview series with Katie Couric of CBS News left Democrats and even Republican critics worried that Palin, 44, wasn't experienced enough to be vice president.

Palin graduated from the University of Idaho in 1987 with a degree in communications-journalism. She briefly worked as a sports reporter in 1988.

Before her gubernatorial election in 2006, Palin sat on the Wasilla, Alaska, City Council from 1992 to 1996 and served two terms - from 1996 to 2002 - as mayor of the small town. She chaired the Alaska Oil and Gas Conservation Commission in 2003 and 2004.

As governor, she helped pass an ethics reform bill, balanced the state's $6.6 billion budget and signed a bill that pushed forward plans to build a natural gas pipeline from the North Slope to the continental U.S.

She supports smaller government, opposes abortion and same-sex marriage, and wants more domestic oil exploration and drilling.

Born in Idaho, Palin moved with her parents to Alaska as a baby. She enjoyed sports growing up and remains an avid hunter, fisher and lifetime member of the National Rifle Association.

Palin met her husband, Todd, in high school. They have five children: Track, Bristol, Willow, Piper and Trig.

About the job

Vice president of the United States

Salary: $221,100

Duties: Assumes the office of president if the job is vacated; assumes duties of the office if the president is unable to exercise them; serves as president of the Senate but only has a vote in the event of a tie.