ANCHORAGE, Alaska - Sarah Palin says she hopes, prays and believes that she will be able to take her experience as a self-described reformer to Washington as vice-president.
Palin voted Tuesday in her hometown of Wasilla, Alaska, spending about two minutes in a voting booth located in the town hall where she once presided as mayor.
On her way into the polling place, Palin hugged friends and shook hands with poll workers and other voters.
She left wearing an "I Voted" sticker on her brown, hooded jacket.
Standing with her husband, Todd, Palin told reporters that local government was a great training ground for her.
She served on Wasilla's city council and then as its mayor before being elected governor two years ago.
Palin stopped at a coffee shop on her way to vote where she picked up a newspaper with a headline reading, "Board exonerates Palin," then held it out for TV cameras.
"Nice headline," she remarked.
The front-page story heralded news that a state board had found no ethical violations by Palin in what has come to be known as Alaska's "Troopergate" scandal.
Palin is expected to fly to Phoenix later Tuesday where she is to join Republican presidential candidate John McCain for their watch party.
