Alaskan governor Sarah Palin is very likely to be selected as Republican Presidential candidate John McCain’s running mate. We knew a lot about prospective Veep candidates Mitt Romney and Tim Pawlenty, but who exactly is Gov. Palin from Alaska?

• Born Sarah Louise Heath on February 11, 1964 (44-years old)
• Moved with parents Charles and Sally Heath to Alaska as a little girl
• Grew up as an avid 5k and 10k runner (entire family did races together
• Point guard and captain of high school basketball team that won state championship (nicknamed Sarah Barracuda for aggressive play)
• High school leader of Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA)
• First runner-up in 1984 Miss Alaska beauty pageant
• Admits smoking marijuana in her youth in Alaska when it was legal there but not liking it
• Lifetime member of the National Rifle Association (NRA)
• Bachelor’s degree in journalism from University of Idaho
• Former sports reporter and commercial fisherman
• Married high school sweetheart, Todd Palin
• Husband works in Alaskan oil field for BP. He is also a champion snowmobiler who has won 2000-mile “Iron Dog” race four times.
• Todd is a Yup’ik Eskimo (native to Alaska)
• Mother of five children. Oldest son joined U.S. army on September 11, 2007. Youngest son Trig Paxon Van Palin has downs syndrome. Refused abortion after learning son would have downs while she was pregnant.
• City Councilwoman for two terms before being elected twice as mayor of Wasilla
• Served on Alaska Oil and Gas Conservation Committee before blowing whistle against corrupt Republican leaders in the state. She resigned over the the matter to make her point. She exposed state Republican party chairman Randy Ruedrich who resigned and was forced to pay record fine.
• Elected governor of Alaska in 2006
• Proposed plans to cut green-house gases and address climate change
• Pro-Life
• Opposes same sex marriage but is against discrimination against gays but believes in giving full rights to gays. She signed same-sex benefits law that predecessor wouldn’t.
• Proponent of eliminating pork barreling in and for Alaska
• Constant approval rating in the 80’s and 90’s percentile
• Hunts and eats moose burgers!

So will Palin become the first woman Vice President of the United States?

RELATED: Sarah Palin: Gun-Toting Bikini Babe (photo)

UPDATE: Sarah Palin Confirms 17-Year Old Daughter’s Pregnancy

sources: Wikipedia, Alaska Bureau of Moose Hunting