The McCain campaign wasted no time in interrupting the media’s coverage of Obama’s acceptance speech with this morning’s announcement of Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin as the Republican nominee for vice president. Prior to the announcement, Palin was widely seen as a dark horse candidate, a distant possibility in the face of such familiar options as Mitt Romney, Tim Pawlenty, and even independent Joe Lieberman.

Palin, 44, has served as governor of Alaska for less than two years, after holding office as mayor of Wasilla, a town of less than 10,000 people. A self-described “hockey mom,” Palin has developed a reputation as a political reformer, passing toughened ethical standards for Alaskan politicians upon assuming the governorship. Nevertheless, as CNN reports, she is currently “under investigation for her firing of a state official, Public Safety Commissioner Walt Monegan.” Democrats have already jumped on the investigation in their criticism of McCain’s selection.

Many in the political realm are interpreting McCain’s pick as reinforcing of his efforts to lure former supporters of Hillary Clinton to his camp. According to CNN, “Palin will be the first woman to be nominated for vice president as a Republican and only the second to run on a major party ticket, after Democrat Geraldine Ferraro in 1984.”

“To have been chosen brings a great challenge,” said Palin in an appearance with McCain in Ohio on Friday. “I know that it will demand the best I have to give and I promise nothing less.”

As governor, Palin has developed a reputation as a committed conservative and devout Christian, opposing abortion rights and gun control, and advocating for expanded exploration and drilling of the nation’s oil resources. Her husband, Todd, works as an oil production operator on Alaska’s North Slope. According to her official biography, Palin is a lifetime member of the National Rifle Association, and an avid hunter and fisher.

McCain’s endorsement was solid. “She’s got the grit, integrity, good sense, and fierce devotion to the common good that is exactly what we need in Washington today.”

The announcement came as a surprise to many, although the Obama campaign and its Democratic surrogates were quick to respond.

“McCain put the former mayor of a town of 9,000 with zero foreign policy experience a heartbeat away from the presidency,” the campaign said in a statement released early Friday.