Sarah Louise Palin (née Heath) (born February 11, 1964) is the current Governor of Alaska, and the presumptive Republican vice presidential candidate for the November 2008 election.
Palin was elected governor in 2006 after defeating incumbent governor Frank Murkowski in the Republican primary and former Democratic governor Tony Knowles in the general election.
She gained attention for publicizing ethical violations by state Republican Party leaders.
Before becoming governor, Palin served two terms on the Wasilla City Council from 1992 to 1996, was elected mayor of Wasilla in 1996, and ran unsuccessfully for lieutenant governor in 2002.
On August 29, 2008, Republican presidential candidate John McCain chose Palin to serve as his running mate.
She will be the first female vice presidential candidate representing the Republican Party and the second female vice presidential candidate representing a major political party.
She will also be the first politician from Alaska to run on a national ticket in a campaign for president or vice president. Palin was the youngest person, and the first woman, to be elected governor of Alaska.
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