United Press International

2008-08-29

Alaska first-term Gov. Sarah Palin has been tapped to be Sen. John McCain's running mate on the Republican ticket, a campaign source said Friday.

A senior member of McCain's campaign confirmed the choice of Palin, 44, CNN reported. Fox News cited a campaign source with the same confirmation.

CNN said it was tipped to the choice when it learned a private plane from Anchorage, Alaska, landed about 25 miles from Dayton, Ohio, site of where McCain was to announce his vice presidential choice Friday.

"The fact that she is not a Washingtonian, that she is outside the beltway ... is in her favor," U.S. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison, R-Texas, told CNN. "I think it's a breath of fresh air.

Palin, 44, was elected governor in 2006.

Hutchison was under consideration early on as a running mate for McCain. Also on the short list were Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty and former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney.

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