In her first interview since being nominated as Republican presidential candidate John McCain's [Images] running mate, Alaska Governor Sarah Palin [Images] told ABC News that she was ready to be the vice president of the United States.

Many Democrats and even some Republicans have expressed doubts about Palin's capability to hold the second most powerful post in the United States.

Speaking about her reaction when McCain asked her to be his running mate, Palin told  interviewer Charles Gibson that she "didn't blink."

"I answered him yes, because I have the confidence in that readiness and knowing that you can't blink, you have to be wired in a way of being so committed to the mission, the mission that we're on, reform of this country and victory in the war, you can't blink. So I didn't blink then even when asked to run as his running mate," she said.

This was Palin's first interview since beating several well known candidates to emerge as the surprising choice for the Republican vice presidential candidate. However, opinion polls have revealed that McCain's ratings have shot up since he selected the relatively unknown Palin.

Image: Alaska Governor Sarah Palin with  Colonel Daly after her speech at the deployment ceremony for the US Army's 1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division at Fort Wainwright, Alaska on Thursday. Palin's son Track is a member of the 4,000 soldier brigade which will be in Iraq for a 12-month deployment.

Photograph: Robyn Beck/ AFP/Getty Images