Republican presidential nominee John McCain today selected Alaska governor Sarah Palin, a relative political novice, as his vice-presidential running mate.
The move is a bold play for the potentially millions of disaffected Hillary Clinton supporters who yearn to vote for a woman candidate in the November election and who have remained impervious to Democratic pleas for party unity.
McCain introduced Palin at a rally in Dayton, Ohio before a crowd of 15,000. He praised her as a woman of "strong principles, fighting spirit and deep compassion".
"She's got the grit, integrity, common sense and fierce devotion to the common good that is exactly what we need in Washington today," McCain said.
Palin appeared confident and enthusiastic in her first appearance on the national stage. She took the podium alongside her husband Todd, a member of the steelworkers union, and said the two celebrate their 20th wedding anniversary today.
"I had promised my husband a little present for our anniversary, and I hope he can see I delivered," she said, to raucous laughter and cheers.
She thanked McCain, and after a few words about herself turned her talk back to the senator.
"This is a moment when great causes can be won and great problems can be overcome," she said. "In a dangerous world, it is John McCain who can lead America's friends and allies in preventing Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons."
She was effusive in her praise for Hillary Clinton, claiming for herself the groundbreaking role Clinton played during the Democratic primary race. "It turns out the women of America aren't finished yet," Palin said. "We can shatter that glass ceiling once and for all."
The announcement came the morning after Barack Obama's well-received address on the final day of the Democratic convention, a transparent effort to keep pundits from discussing Obama.
Texas senator Kay Bailey Hutchinson, one of the senior women in the US Senate, praised Palin as "a breath of fresh air".
"They wanted to show that they are independent and that they are the agents of change and they have gone outside the [Washington area] to do it," she told MSNBC television. "Of course there's a risk, and I think John McCain assessed that risk".
Conservative activists today applauded the pick.
David Keene, chairman of the American conservative union, said the selection is "great news for conservatives".
"Her dedication to principle, her courage both before and after her election as governor of Alaska and her personal qualities make her a perfect choice for vice-president," he said.
"Any conservatives who have been lukewarm thus far in their support of the McCain candidacy will work their hearts out between now and November for the McCain-Palin ticket."
The conservative Washington anti-tax group Club for Growth was quick to praise Palin, lauding her "fiscal responsibility" and opposition to the use of public money on a notorious bridge project in an empty quarter of Alaska.
"At a time when many Republicans are still clinging to pork-barrel politics, Governor Palin has quickly become a leader on this issue," said Club for Growth President Pat Toomey. "She is a principled reformer who understands how badly wasteful spending has marred the Republican brand."
Barack Obama spokesman Bill Burton mocked the selection and noted Palin's anti-abortion stance.
"Today, John McCain put the former mayor of a town of 9,000 with zero foreign policy experience a heartbeat away from the presidency," he said. "Governor Palin shares John McCain's commitment to overturning Roe v Wade, the agenda of big oil and continuing George Bush's failed economic policies - that's not the change we need, it's just more of the same".
Palin's selection is sure to excite the news media and thrill voters at the prospect that the next administration will feature either the first female vice-president or African-American president.
As unexpected and unusual as Palin's selection is, she is not the first woman to stand for vice-president. That was Geraldine Ferraro, a New York congresswoman who in 1984 ran alongside Democratic presidential nominee Walter Mondale.
Palin, 44, is Alaska's first female governor. She was sworn in December 2006, making her one of the least experienced people to run for vice-president in recent memory. Alaska is one of the smallest states in the US, with only 670,000 residents.
Before becoming governor, Palin served two terms as mayor of Wasilla, Alaska, a town of 9,800 people, and was on the city's council before that. In the 2006 Alaska gubernatorial race, Palin bested the incumbent Republican governor during the primary election.
In recent days, McCain personally interviewed Palin at his ranch in Sedona, Arizona.
In selecting a decidedly unconventional running mate, McCain passed over establishment favourites Minnesota governor Tim Pawlenty and former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney.
Palin will have to face Democratic vice-presidential nominee Joe Biden in a televised debate September 2 in St Louis, Missouri.
Biden, a Delaware senator, is known as a skilled and tactful debater, and is a foreign policy expert, chairing the Senate foreign relations committee. Obama announced his selection of Biden last weekend.
The Democrats will raise questions whether Palin passes the "commander-in-chief test", that is, will Palin be able to assume the presidency should McCain, who has suffered skin cancer, become incapacitated.
The announcement was eagerly anticipated among Republicans, who travel this weekend to St Paul, Minnesota, for their national convention, which kicks off on Monday. Palin is to address the convention on Wednesday, and will likely launch blistering attacks on Obama.
Today is John McCain's 72nd birthday, and the youthful Palin is a welcome contrast. She is three years younger than Obama. In addition, she was a runner-up to the Miss Alaska beauty pageant.
She would present a new face unfamiliar to most of the country and would stir up the race.
Palin would be a youthful addition to the ticket. She brings several characteristics sure to encourage the Republican base, such as her opposition to abortion rights and her support of expanded drilling in the Alaska National Wildlife Refuge.
However, she also brings several risks. She has been in office less than two years, and will be hard pressed to go toe-to-toe in debate with Biden.
The news media may also seek to tie Palin to longtime Alaska Republican senator Ted Stevens, who is soon to stand trial on corruption charges.
In the Alaska capital, Juneau, Palin is under her own ethics cloud: The Alaska legislature is investigating whether Palin sacked a public safety commissioner who declined to fire a state trooper that was engaged in a custody battle with Palin's sister.
Sarah Palin.Ficheiro:Tricia Ward.
John McCain.Ficheiro:Congresso dos Estados Unidos.
 

A governadora do , , foi seleccionada pelo candidato presidencial dos Estados Unidos, , como a vice-presidencial como companheira de chapa. O anúncio oficial foi feito ontem, ao meio-dia Oriental () em um comício em Dayton.

Notícias das agências começaram a relatar Palin como a indicada cerca de uma hora mais cedo, citando fontes dentro da campanha de McCain.

Na apresentação de Palin, McCain disse, "Eu tenho encontrado a parceira certa para enfrentar aqueles que os seus privilégios ao longo do valor das suas responsabilidades." Palin tem uma "excelente reputação para a defesa de interesses especiais e entrincheirados burocracias", acrescentou.

"Vou ser homenageado para servir ao lado do próximo presidente dos Estados Unidos", disse Palin, ao aceitar a posição. "Para ter sido escolhido traz um grande desafio. Eu sei que ele irá exigir o melhor que tenho para dar e eu prometo nada menos."

Palin, é governadora do Alasca desde 2006, e serviu como anteriormente conselheira e prefeito de , . Anteriormente a esse anúncio, outros potenciais escolhas incluíam antigo governador de , , governador de , , ex-governador de ,  e o senador de , .

Sarah Palin será a primeira mulher como candidata à vice-presidente pelo . Em 1984,  foi companheira de vice chapa do  no .

A primeira agenda de debate vice-presidencial é no dia 2 de outubro, em St. Louis, , onde Palin irá ao debate do vice de companheiro de chapa de , .

Auxiliares de Palin disseram que pensava que ela estava no Alasca, no entanto, ela vôou secretamente durante a noite para Ohio onde McCain fez o anúncio formal. 




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