Sarah Palin Releases Tax Returns

Republican John McCain's campaign says Sarah and Todd Palin had a gross income of nearly $170,000 last year and paid nearly $25,000 in taxes.

The campaign also says the couple made nearly $130,000 and paid about $12,000 in taxes in 2006.

McCain's campaign released the joint income tax return Friday for his vice presidential nominee and her husband.

The couple donated more than $8,000 to charity over two years.

Their income jump from 2006 to 2007 resulted from the salary increase when Sarah Palin became Alaska's governor.

The McCain-Palin campaign had said the tax returns would be released Monday, but it suddenly put them out Friday afternoon - a time long used by government to reveal embarrassing news because few people watch TV or read newspapers Friday evening and Saturday.