Palin Officially Picked as McCain`s Running Mate

Republicans have officially chosen Alaska Governor Sarah Palin as the running mate of presidential candidate John McCain.

Palin said in her acceptance speech yesterday at the Republican National Convention in St. Paul, Minnesota, “I’m not going to Washington to seek their good opinion - I’m going to Washington to serve the people of this country,” targeting certain media that criticized her lack of experience and her teenage daughter’s pregnancy.

Palin is the first woman nominated by the Republican Party as vice president. In 1984, Democratic Congresswoman Geraldine Ferraro was the first woman nominated for vice president, joining the ticket of Walter Mondale.

McCain, meanwhile, will be the oldest presidential candidate in U.S. history at age 72.

With 60 days to go before the presidential election, the GOP will hold its official launch party with McCain’s acceptance speech.

With the nomination of the two parties’ candidates, the election will be a competition of black vs. white, generations and male vs. female.

McCain and his rival Barack Obama will hold TV debates Sept. 26, Oct. 7 and Oct. 15, and the vice presidential candidates will hold one Oct. 2.

triplets@donga.com