Gov. Palin's nomination noteworthy

It appears the 2008 general election will be historic on many fronts.

First, we have the first black presidential candidate. Now, we could have a woman vice president.

Unfortunately, the nomination of Sarah Palin has been overshadowed by a hurricane and the announcement that her 17-year-old daughter is 5 months pregnant.

But let's not overlook the historic impact of her nomination, which should come Thursday during the Republican National Convention. Less than 100 years ago, women in the United States couldn't even vote.

Palin, 44, might not be the first woman to be nominated for vice president (Geraldine Ferraro ran with Walter Mondale in 1984), but she is no less significant. A mother of 5, the governor of Alaska and a former small-town mayor, this smart, hard-working "hockey mom" now finds herself thrust into the national spotlight.

And so far, she seems comfortable there.

Despite the hits from the media, the revelations about her daughter, the accusations that she's inexperienced and unfit for the job, Palin has stood her ground.

Again, this is not an endorsement if the McCain-Palin ticket, but it is a recognition that a woman, after more than 200 years since the forming of this nation, may finally have a place in the White House, albeit not in the Oval Office.

Still, Palin could be very influential as a woman in power, a role model for our daughters and a strong leader outside her home state of Alaska.

Susan B. Anthony, a pioneer in the U.S. Women's Suffrage Movement, said, "There never will be complete equality until women themselves help to make laws and elect lawmakers."

We agree. Now, we need more than just the power to vote, we need more women in influential political positions.

As a start, it will be nice to see one on the presidential ballot.