Todd Palin, the "First Dude" of Alaska, is described as a "down-to-earth good guy" despite being a world-champion snowmobiler and the husband of high-profile Gov. Sarah Palin (R).

Palin is Yup'ik Eskimo from his mother's family. His mother, Blanche Palin, was a former secretary of the Alaska Federation of Natives and his grandmother, Helena Andree, is a respected elder in the Bristol Bay area.

Palin is also a four-time winner of the Iron Dog snowmachine race, a title that carries great status. But friends say he remains true to his low-key roots.

"He’s just a really down-to-earth good guy," Chuck Francis Baird, a fellow racer, told The New York Times. "He’s the kind of guy who if you were in a bind you could just call him up and say you need a favor."

Sarah Palin took office as the first woman governor of Alaska in December 2006. She served as mayor of Wasilla for two terms. Her experience has come under heavy scrutiny since being chosen as Sen. John McCain's running mate.

Get the Story:
A Low-Key Outdoorsman Faces a National Role (The New York Times 9/3)
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McCain Strategist Blasts Media (The Washington Post 9/3)
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Aides Say Team Interviewed Palin Late in the Process (The Washington Post 9/3)

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