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Newest States in the Union Get top Billing

By: Daniel C. Vock - September 4, 2008 12:00 am

With Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin’s addition to the Republican national ticket, all of the last three states admitted to the Union – Hawaii, Alaska and Arizona – can boast of being the home to major party candidates in this presidential election.

The Democratic nominee, U.S. Sen. Barack Obama of Illinois, was born and raised in Hawaii, which became the 50th state on Aug. 21, 1959. Palin has lived in Alaska for most of her life. Her selection as the Republican’s vice-presidential nominee comes as Alaska is gearing up for its 50th anniversary as a state on Jan. 3. The Republican ticket is headed by U.S. Sen. John McCain, who represents the forty-eighth state – Arizona – in the U.S. Senate.

Notable for his connection to the other end of U.S. history, Democratic vice-presidential pick U.S. Sen. Joe Biden was born in Pennsylvania, one of the original 13, and now lives in and represents Delaware, the First State.

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