McCain Picks Alaska Gov as VP Candidate

By Margaret Lyons in News on Aug 29, 2008 4:00PM

John McCain has chosen Governor Sarah Palin of Alaska as his running mate.

According to a statement from the McCain camp,

In Alaska, Governor Palin challenged a corrupt system and passed a landmark ethics reform bill. She has actually used her veto and cut budgetary spending. She put a stop to the "bridge to nowhere" that would have cost taxpayers $400 million dollars.

As the head of Alaska's National Guard and as the mother of a soldier herself, Governor Palin understands what it takes to lead our nation and she understands the importance of supporting our troops.

She's the first female governor of Alaska, an office she's held since 2006, and she's the mother of five, a lifelong NRA member, a fiscal conservative, an abortion opponent, and she's known as a reformer. [NYT, Trib, LA Times, photo via facebook]