==Vice Presidential Candidate==
[[Image:Palin Family..jpg|thumb|right|Palin family members at the announcement of Palin's vice presidential selection, August 29, 2008. From left: Todd, Piper, Willow, Bristol, and Trig.]]
On August 29, 2008, Republican [[John McCain ]] announced the selection of Sarah Palin for his vice presidential running mate.<ref>http://www.newsmax.com/headlines/sarah_palin_vp/2008/08/29/126138.html</ref> The selection was a surprise, as those in the media were expecting [[Minnesota]] Governor [[Tim Pawlenty]] or former [[Massachusetts]]'s Governor [[Mitt Romney]]. Palin added youth and executive experience to the ticket. She is the first female vice presidential candidate on a Republican ticket, and only the second one from a major political party in U.S. history. [[Democrat]] [[Geraldine Ferraro]] was the first, as [[Walter Mondale]]'s running mate in 1984.
Palin's speech before the Republican convention on Wednesday, September 3rd was watched by over 40 million people. As many people watched her as watched Obama's acceptance speech on the final day of the Democratic convention.