Sep. 7--Sen. John McCain's surprise pick of Alaska's Gov. Sarah Palin as his vice presidential running mate has put Palin's brief record as Alaska govervor under intense national scrutiny.

Her victories and fumbles during a year and a half as the state's chief executive are being picked apart, as well as her actions while serving as a member of the Alaska Oil and Gas Conservation Commission, and as mayor and assembly member in Wasilla.

Intensely personal matters about her family, such as the pregnancy of her teenage daughter, have also received a barrage of publicity.

So far, however, Palin has added a powerful jolt of energy to McCain's campaign. The surprise selection overshadowed Barack Obama's acceptance speech at the Democratic National Convention, and dominated the media until Hurricane Gustav approached U.S. shores.

In Alaska, Palin demonstrated strengths and weaknesses as governor. She scored stunning legislative achievements in 2007 and 2008, but failed to follow up on promises to cut spending and change the way the Legislature writes the state capital budget, a spending program stuffed with big construction projects with the state flush with oil money.

Based on Palin's track record so far in Juneau, her national campaign claims of being tough on Big Oil have credibility, but big increases in two state budgets under her administration would challenge any claims of being a fiscal conservative.

But there's little doubt that Palin is willing to shake things up and play politics differently.

Palin relishes her reputation as a reformer, and as governor she championed ethics reform. A strong ethics bill passed the Legislature during her first year. Legislators did the heavy lifting on the compelx bill, but Palin strongly supported it.

However, she's faced with a nagging scandal over interference in state personnel matters over a personal matter. There are allegations that Palin's husband, Todd Palin, her staff and possibly herself may have tried to influence the state troopers to dismiss her brother-in-law, a trooper who is involved in a messy divorce with her sister. The issue may cloud her reputation on ethics. An investigator hired by the Legislature is investigating the matter.

While Palin lacks the kind of political experience that would have her negotiate compromises on complex issues, with state legislators for instance, her 80 percent-plus approval ratings with the Alaska public was so great that few legislators dared to challenge her, at least in her first year. Palin got what she wanted on her legislative agenda.

Alaska's politicians resent her popularity, but give Palin credit for an uncanny ability to connect with people and a supurb sense of using media and timing. Palin understands how to use the public pulpit in pushing her initiatives, and the effects generally have cowed legislative critics.