Personality Spotlight: Sarah Palin

WASHINGTON, Nov. 2 (UPI) -- Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin rose from relative political obscurity to superstar when Republican presidential nominee John McCain made her his running mate.

Palin, 44, a native of Sandpoint, Idaho, served as mayor of Wasilla, Alaska, from 1996 to 2002. After an unsuccessful campaign for lieutenant governor in 2002, she defeated incumbent Gov. Frank Murkowski in the 2006 primary and then beat Democratic former Gov. Tony Knowles in a campaign that positioned her as an agent of change.

McCain's announcement in August days before the GOP convention that he had selected Palin was greeted with a spike in campaign contributions and enthusiasm among conservatives. In her acceptance speech, Palin introduced herself to the nation as a family-values conservative who would push for reform in Washington.

"If character is the measure in this election and hope the theme and change the goal we share," she said, "then I ask you to join our cause."

"She will break the old-boy network and the special interests that control the agenda in Washington," McCain said during a television appearance.

Although Palin received good reviews for her debate with Democratic vice presidential nominee Joe Biden, her early performances in high-profile media interviews were widely panned and prominent conservatives began to question publicly whether she was ready to serve as vice president -- particularly given the age and medical history of McCain, a 72-year-old cancer survivor.

A controversy in Alaska over the firing of the state's public safety commissioner intensified the debate. An investigation concluded in October Palin's dismissal of Walter Monegan was legal, but she abused the power of her office and violated ethics law in pushing for the firing of her former brother-in-law as an Alaska state trooper. Palin has claimed the investigation exonerated her.

As the campaign approached its final week, campaign insiders were describing growing tension between Palin and advisers to McCain regarding how the campaign has been conducted and how her role in it has been managed. McCain has publicly continued to praise his running mate.

Palin, a mother of five whose newborn son, Trig, has Down syndrome, has pledged to advocate for families with special needs.