On Friday, Aug. 29, 2008, McCain picked Alaska Governor Sarah Palin as his running mate at a campaign rally in Dayton, Ohio.

Palin is a conservative first-term governor, former beauty queen, and mother of five, including a newborn son who was born with Down syndrome in April, 2008. The surprise pick of Palin set off a media frenzy that only intensified days later when she announced her 17-year-old daughter was pregnant.