Some quick facts about Alaska governor Sarah Palin, chosen by John McCain to be his running mate in the 2008 presidential election:

* Born: 1964, in Idaho (Her parents came to Alaska in 1964 to teach school in the town of Skagway)

* Education: University of Idaho graduate, B.S. in Communications - Journalism, 1987

* Became governor: Took office on December 4, 2006

* Previous elected/political positions: Wasilla (Alaska) City Council; mayor of Wasilla; president of Alaska Conference of Mayors; member of Alaska Municipal League Board; chairman of Alaska Oil and Gas Conservation Commission

* Was the runner-up in the 1984 Miss Alaska pageant. She won a scholarship and used it to attend the University of Idaho

* Posed for a Vogue magazine photo shoot with her three daughters in 2007

* Spouse: Todd Palin, a commercial fisherman and an oil company worker on Alaska's North Slope. He is also three-time champion of the world's longest snowmobile race, the Iron Dog

* Lifetime member of the National Rifle Association

* Hobbies and interests include hunting, fishing, running, and the history of Alaska and of the U.S. founders. Sarah Palin ran in Humpy's Marathon in Anchorage in 2005.

Learn more about Sarah Palin at www.gov.state.ak.us/bio.php and www.palinforgovernor.com/aboutSarah.html