McCain picks former beauty queen for running mate

JOHN McCAIN made a surprise choice of Sarah Palin as his running mate, adding a political unknown to the presidential ticket who could help him appeal to women voters.

Palin, 44, a self-described “hockey mom”, is a conservative first-term governor of Alaska with strong anti-abortion views, a record of reform and fiscal conservatism and an outsider’s perspective on Washington.

“She’s exactly who I need. She’s exactly who this country needs to help me fight the same old Washington politics of me first and country second,” McCain told a roaring crowd of 15,000 supporters in Dayton, Ohio.

Palin was chosen over more experienced and better known contenders as the Arizona senator grabbed the spotlight away from Democratic rival Barack Obama one day after Obama accepted his party’s presidential nomination before 75,000 flag-waving supporters at Denver’s football stadium.

“Senator, I am honoured to be chosen as your running mate. I will be honoured to serve next to the next president of the United States,” Palin said, joined on stage by her husband and family. She has five children ranging in age from 5 months to 18 years.

“As governor, I’ve stood up to the old politics as usual,” she said. “This is a moment when principle and political independence matter.”

McCain and Palin will face Obama and his No 2, Joe Biden, in the November 4 presidential election.