As the Republican vice-presidential nominee, Sarah Palin points to her management experience while deriding her Democratic rivals. But an examination of her swift rise and record as mayor of Wasilla and then governor finds that her visceral style and penchant for attacking critics contrasts with her carefully crafted public image.

For all the admiration in Alaska for Sarah Palin, her rapid ascent from an activist in the P.T.A. to the running mate of Senator John McCain did not come without battle wounds. Her years in Wasilla, her first executive experience, reveal a mix of successes and stumbles, with Ms. Palin gaining wide support but alienating some townspeople.