Alaska's governor is adamantly anti-abortion and supports teaching creationism in schools. No big surprise there. Instead, the questions revolve around how and why she was chosen, some of her actions as a mayor and governor, her daughter's out-of-wedlock pregnancy (the tabloid angle), and association with a political party that thinks Alaska should secede from the US.

McCain spokesmen were quick to deny any connection between Palin and a party that hopes to have Alaska split from the US, and claims she has been a Republican for many years. As the UK Guardian reports, however, AIP vice-chairman George Clark told the audience at the Party's 2008 Convention that she supported the Party before winning her first political post, mayor of the town of Wasilla, Alaska. "But you get along to go along," Clark said, "she eventually joined the Republican Party, where she had all kinds of problems with their ethics, and well, I won't go into that." As Governor, Palin sent a video greeting to the Party's 2008 Convention. AIP's motto is "Alaska First, Alaska Always."