mc cain picks alaskan to run as vp

Republican John McCain has unveiled a major surprise in the White House race with his pick of first woman governor of Alaska, Sarah Palin, as his running-mate, campaign officials said.

A political outsider and relative unknown on the national stage, Governor Palin, 44, a mother of five children, emerged late Thursday as the dark horse candidate for Senator McCain's vice-presidential nominee.

Dave R.