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| McCain picks woman running mate | McCain picks woman running mate |
| (9 minutes later) | |
| US Republican presidential hopeful John McCain has picked Sarah Palin, the female governor of Alaska, as his surprise running mate, US media say. | US Republican presidential hopeful John McCain has picked Sarah Palin, the female governor of Alaska, as his surprise running mate, US media say. |
| At 44, she is younger than Barack Obama and is credited with reforms during her first term, but she is relatively unknown in US politics. | At 44, she is younger than Barack Obama and is credited with reforms during her first term, but she is relatively unknown in US politics. |
| Mr McCain is due to present her on stage at a rally in Dayton, Ohio, as he celebrates his 72nd birthday. | |
| Analysts say the Republican is keen to wrest back headlines from Mr Obama. | Analysts say the Republican is keen to wrest back headlines from Mr Obama. |
| Ms Palin is perhaps the most daring vice-presidential choice for Mr McCain, the BBC's Kim Ghattas reports from Dayton. | Ms Palin is perhaps the most daring vice-presidential choice for Mr McCain, the BBC's Kim Ghattas reports from Dayton. |
| The two most likely choices were, until recently, former Governor of Massachusetts Mitt Romney and Governor of Minnesota Tim Pawlenty. | The two most likely choices were, until recently, former Governor of Massachusetts Mitt Romney and Governor of Minnesota Tim Pawlenty. |
| Broad appeal | |
| The youngest governor of Alaska and the first woman to hold that position, Ms Palin is married with five children. | |
| Analysts say she may have been chosen by the McCain campaign as a tactic to win over Democratic women voters, disappointed by the defeat of Hillary Clinton to Barack Obama. | Analysts say she may have been chosen by the McCain campaign as a tactic to win over Democratic women voters, disappointed by the defeat of Hillary Clinton to Barack Obama. |
| Her relative youth and reforms as governor may also go some way to match Mr Obama's appeal, and boost Mr McCain's chances. | Her relative youth and reforms as governor may also go some way to match Mr Obama's appeal, and boost Mr McCain's chances. |
| "She will be his partner in reforming Washington," a senior McCain official told Reuters news agency, speaking on condition of anonymity. | "She will be his partner in reforming Washington," a senior McCain official told Reuters news agency, speaking on condition of anonymity. |
| But Ms Palin lacks foreign policy experience and while being a Washington outsider can be an asset for the McCain ticket, it also means she has not been tested on the national stage, our correspondent says. | |
| At the same time, Ms Palin is a strong conservative, fiscally and socially. | |
| She also opposes abortion and one of her sons has Down's Syndrome. | |
| Abortion has been a key issue cited by Republican voters who feel the Arizona senator is not conservative enough, our correspondent says. |