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DAYTON, Ohio - Republican White House hopeful John McCain on Friday named Alaska Governor Sarah Palin as his vice presidential running mate, US media reported.
Fox and CNN said that campaign sources confirmed the surprise choice of Palin, 44, just minutes away from the start of a rally here where the Republican will make the official announcement.
The choice of Palin was seen as a bold effort by McCain to attract disgruntled Democratic and independent supporters of Senator Hillary Clinton, who was defeated by Barack Obama in the race to be the Democratic Party's presidential nominee.
Palin, a telegenic conservative, has led the oil-producing northwestern US state since December 2006 and was the first woman and youngest person to hold that state's top job.
Known as an anticorruption crusader, Palin studied journalism and is on the conservative wing of her party.
A married mother of five, she is an opponent of abortion rights, a member of the National Rifle Association (NRA), and supporter of a pipeline to move natural gas across her sprawling state.
Palin cut her political teeth as mayor of the small town of Wasilla, Alaska from 1996-2002, also favors oil exploration in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, a pillar of McCain's energy plans.
In the Republican primaries for governor in 2006 Palin prevailed campaigning on issues from transportation to education and crime.
Palin is also an avid hunter, angler and reportedly enjoys tucking into a moose-burger.
If McCain were elected in the November 4 presidential election, the choice of Palin as a running mate would make her the first woman vice president in the United States.
- AFP /ls
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