US Republican presidential candidate John McCain has chosen a former Miss Alaska runner-up as his vice-presidential running mate.

Sarah Heath Palin, 44, made history on December 4, 2006, when she took office as the first woman governor of the state, and its youngest.

Born in Sandpoint, Idaho, her family moved to Alaska when she was a baby. She is married to Todd, a Native Yup'ik Eskimo who works at a BP oil field outside the fishing season.

Mrs Palin has five children - Track, 18, Bristol, 17, Willow, 13, Piper, seven and Trig Paxson Van Palin, who has Down's Syndrome and was born on April 18 this year.

According to reports, she likes to hunt, eat moose hamburgers, go ice fishing and ride snowmobiles. She also holds a lifetime membership of the National Rifle Association.

Mrs Palin has previously admitted to using marijuana when it was legal in her state, but claimed she didn't like it.

Mr McCain and Mrs Palin face the Democratic nominee Barack Obama and his No 2, veteran Senator Joe Biden, in the November 4 election.

The so-called "hockey mum" has a reputation for government reform and an approval rating higher than 80 per cent.

Mrs Palin would be the second female vice-presidential nominee of a major party, following Geraldine Ferraro as Democratic nominee in 1984.

Mr McCain, who turns 72 today, officially confirmed his running mate at a rally in Ohio.

Mrs Palin rose to attention in Alaska after blowing the whistle on ethical violations by state Republican Party leaders and was elected in 2006 after beating the incumbent Republican governor in the primary and a former Democratic Alaskan governor in the general election.

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