Background on Sarah Palin

Sarah Palin was chosen as the Republican running mate for John McCain in the 2008 election. Palin started as a city council member for a town called Wassail with just over seven thousand people in 1992. She was elected mayor of Wassail in 1996 and began to develop her personal stance on abortion, gun control, and taxes. As mayor of Wassail her duties included being in charge of the Police Department and while in office Palin increased the city's tax to pay for a new multi-use sports center. She was easily re-elected mayor of Wassail in 1999. Palin ran for lieutenant governor in 2002 but was unsuccessful. She spent 2003-2004 working on the Alaska Oil and Gas Conservation Commission serving as the Ethics supervisor. In 2006 Palin defeated Sean Parnell to become the governor of Alaska. Palin strongly promotes oil and natural gas research in Alaska, which includes the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. In 2007 Palin passed a law allowing the construction of a natural gas pipeline from the North Slope to the Lower 48.

Her political positions are very conservative. She is known as a traditional 'hockey mom". She opposes abortion unless the mother is in danger. She supports capital punishment but opposes same sex marriage. She believes in the right to be able to keep and bear arms. She is very well known for strongly supporting oil and natural gas drilling.