Journey from fisherwoman to presidential running mate

IN TWO short years, Sarah Palin moved from small-town mayor with a taste for mooseburgers to the governor’s office and now — making history — to John McCain’s side as the first female running mate on a Republican presidential ticket.

She has more experience catching fish as a former commercial fisherwoman than dealing with foreign policy or national affairs.

In turning to her, McCain picked an independent figure in his own mould, one who has taken on Alaska’s powerful oil industry and, at 44, is three years younger than Barack Obama and a generation younger than McCain who turned 72 yesterday.