SARAH PALIN: The governor of Alaska was thrust into the international spotlight overnight, and without mercy. She dealt with the media attacks with unwavering confidence. With her family facing challenges -- an infant son with Down syndrome and a pregnant unmarried teenage daughter -- Palin was the picture of grace under pressure. Funny how we're still talking about her and not her running mate. The country hasn't seen the last of this pitbull of a hockey mom.
It was reported Wednesday that the Republican Party had spent $150,000 on clothes, hair styling and accessories for Sarah Palin and her family from such upscale stores as Saks Fifth Avenue and Nieman Marcus. Here's a look:
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Arriving in Bangor, Maine, Thursday, Oct. 16
Democrats cross-country have been completely side-swiped by McCain’s pick of Sarah Palin. They’re so confused as to how to come at the surprise pick that they really haven’t even started. As Obama’s campaign started brainstorming, they released a statement that attacked her support of drilling in Alaska (how can you be against that?), but that was about it.
Here’s why they’re stumped: If democrats attack her lack of experience, McCain turns it right back at them. The difference would be that for the Democrats the inexperienced person is on TOP of the ticket. But this also gives McCain a chance to lobby for change. As we learn more of Palin’s record, we learn shehas crossed party lines to clean up corruption in her own party in Alaska.
Here’s the great thing: other Obama supprters are saying “wait until the VP debate; she’ll be crushed”. However, I’ve been reading reports of people from her home state, and they say that she’ll bite back. The woman’s nickname is barracuda and apparently she can hold her own. We’ll have to see howit plays out.
Either way, this woman scares the hell out of liberals. Right now we can just watch them twist in the wind.
DENVER John McCain has chosen Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin as his running mate. The Republican presidential candidate unveiled Palin as his surprise pick at a rally Friday in Dayton, a top campaign aide said, speaking on the condition of anonymity.
Palin, 44, is a first-term governor known for being a maverick who's willing to challenge her own party, a key trait that McCain hopes will help him attract independent voters. She's perceived as an ethics crusader and reformer within a state Republican Party that's been rocked by scandal, credentials that also enhance McCain's similar image.
Her gender could help McCain steal away some women who'd supported Hillary Clinton in the Democratic primaries but were angry that she wasn't chosen as Barack Obama's running mate.
Here is a photo of her family, her baby is not shown here
Palin is ex-beauty contestant known for toughness
'SARAH BARRACUDA' | Abortion foe, NRA member
Anyone who thinks Sarah Palin is just a pretty face never looked at her resume.
Or run against her -- or gone hunting with her.
The former beauty contestant and first-term Alaska governor has a reputation for knocking heads in the state legislature while pushing through political reforms.
As she has worked her way up through the political ranks from Wasilla City Council to the governor's mansion in Juneau, she has challenged heavy spending and fought to reduce taxes.
The mother of five strongly opposes abortion and is a lifetime member of the National Rifle Association. Her oldest son, Track, will deploy to Iraq with the Army in September.
Before getting into politics via her local school board, Palin described herself as ''just your average hockey mom in Alaska.''
Her political career has tracked traditional conservative values.
After serving on the Wasilla City Council from 1992 to 1996, she defeated the town's incumbent mayor by campaigning against wasteful spending and high taxes.
She won the governorship in 2006 by beating incumbent Frank Murkowski in the Republican primary, then toppling a former two-term Democratic governor.
For fun, Palin hunts, ice fishes, and rides snowmobiles.
She was born Feb. 11, 1964, in Sandpoint, Idaho. The daughter of a father who taught elementary school science and coached track and a mother who worked as a school secretary, she grew up in a family devoted to sports and the outdoors.
When she was 3 months old, the family moved to Alaska, where moose hunting and distance running filled weekends.
At Wasilla High School, Palin was captain of the basketball team in 1982 when it won the state small-school championship. Her tough play -- once on a stress-fractured ankle -- earned her the nickname ''Sarah Barracuda.''
In 1984, she was first runner-up in the Miss Alaska beauty pageant.
She eloped with her husband Todd, a union oil worker and champion snowmobiler, in 1988 to save on an expensive wedding.
; "sarahpalin.com")
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