Palin, 44, is a first-term governor and will become the first person on a GOP ticket who is not a white male. In picking her, McCain went outside of a short list of candidates that included former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney and Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty.

Picking a woman from outside the Beltway could pay great dividends in the general election. The McCain campaign has been trying to put a wedge between supporters of Democratic nominee Sen. Barack Obama (Ill.) and primary rival Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (N.Y.) in the hopes of getting Democratic women who backed the former first lady in the nominating contest to support the Arizona senator in the general election.

Palin also adds youth to the GOP ticket. McCain is turning 72 today and Democrats appear to be making age an issue in the campaign.  However, with Palin’s youth comes the inexperience that Republicans are criticizing Obama for. The GOP has been trying to make the case that the Illinois senator is not ready to lead. With a 44-year-old first-term governor on the ticket, theses attacks may begin to ring hollow to some.

In addition, McCain disagrees with Palin on energy policy, an issue that will play a major role in the general election. As governor of Alaska, Palin supports drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR). McCain, who recently reversed his position on offshore drilling and now supports it, has long been opposed to oil exploration in ANWR.