Todd Palin: 'First Dude' Was Key Adviser to Governor Palin, E-Mails Show

"First Dude" Todd Palin was former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin's main man in state government decision-making as well as in the couple's private life, a trail of e-mails reveals.
The e-mails between the Palins show that Todd Palin was involved in a host of key decisions -- from judicial nominations to bids for gas pipelines, according to the Washington Post, the Associated Press, and MSNBC.com.

Some 3,000 electronic messages, obtained via Freedom of Information Act requests, have Todd Palin weighing in on state board appointments, labor issues and even use of government aircraft during his wife's 2 1/2 years as governor.

Sarah Palin, the Republican nominee for vice president in 2008, resigned as governor last July. Still enormously popular with conservatives, she is to address the National Tea Party Convention in Nashville Saturday night.