Dayton, OH — Senator John McCain, the presumptive nominee for the Republican party, unveiled his choice for running mate — Sarah Louise Palin, Governor of Alaska — at an historic rally in Dayton, Ohio on his 72nd birthday, 29 August 2008. This marks the first time a woman will be on the Republican ticket. The senator's wife Cindy and their daughter Meghan accompanied him on stage and they along with several members of the audience sang him "Happy Birthday." Governor Palin was joined by her husband, Todd, and their daughters Bristol, Willow, and Piper and their 4-month-old son Trig. Their son Track, 19, was not with them because he has enlisted in the US Army and is scheduled to deploy to Iraq on 11 September 2008.

Supporters and some protesters came from as far as Lexington, Kentucky in banner numbers exceeding the Ervin J. Nutter Center's capacity of 16,000.

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