Palin by comparison

Sen. John McCain chooses first-term Alaska governor Sarah Palin as his running mate. The Washington Post reports:

Republican presumptive presidential nominee John McCain introduced first-term Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin as his vice presidential choice here Friday at a raucous rally before thousands of his supporters, saying she is the "running mate who can best help me shake up Washington.''

The selection of the little-known 44-year-old governor shook up the presidential race as well. It was a startling choice that McCain said would reinforce his reputation as a maverick but that Democrats quickly criticized as not meeting McCain's stated goal of picking someone who would be ready to assume the presidency at a moment's notice.

"She's got the grit, integrity, good sense and fierce devotion to the common good that is exactly what we need in Washington today,'' McCain said. "She knows where she comes from, and she knows who she works for.''

The selection of Sarah Palin guarantees one thing ... presidential politics will never be the same.

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