WASHINGTON, Sept. 2 (Xinhua) -- U.S. Republican's
presumptive presidential nominee John McCain defended his selection of Alaska
Governor Sarah Palin as his running mate on Tuesday despite controversy caused
by her teenager daughter's pregnancy.
"My vetting process was completely thorough and I'm
grateful for the results," McCain told reporters as he campaigned in
Philadelphia.
U.S. Republican presidential candidate
Senator John McCain looks on as his vice presidential running mate, Alaska
Governor Sarah Palin (R) gestures to the crowd at a campaign event in
Dayton, Ohio August 29, 2008. (Xinhua/Reuters Photo) Photo Gallery>>>
His comments came one day after Palin and her husband
announced that their 17-year-old daughter, Bristol, was 5-month pregnant and
would marry the child's father.
"America's excited and they're going to be even more
excited once they see her tomorrow night," the Arizona senator said in another
stop in Ohio. "I'm very, very proud of the impression that she's made on all of
America and I'm looking forward to serving with her."
Palin's selection stirred more controversy after
disclosure that she had hired a private lawyer in an ethics probe in Alaska, and
feed doubts on McCain's judgment and how thoroughly her background was examined.
US Republican presidential candidate
Senator John McCain (2nd R) and his wife Cindy (R) head in for a shopping
trip at The Buckeye Corner in Columbus, Ohio, with running mate Alaska
Governor Sarah Palin (3rd L), her husband Todd (L) and their daughters
Piper (3rd R) and Willow (2nd L) August 29, 2008. (Xinhua/Reuters
Photo) Photo
Gallery>>>
McCain's campaign has been trying to defend their
vice president vetting procedure since Palin was announced as his running mate
on Aug. 29.
According to a timeline issued by the campaign,
McCain met Palin for the first time in February, and then had a telephone
conversation with her last week before inviting her to Arizona, where he met
with her a second time and offered her the job Thursday.
The campaign also said that Palin's husband, Todd,
was arrested in 1986 in Alaska for driving under the influence of alcohol, at
age 22.
McCain and Palin were due to officially receive their
nominations during the Republican National Convention currently held in
Minnesota.
ST. PAUL, the United States,
Sept. 2 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President George W. Bush will speak to the Republican
National Convention via satellite Tuesday night, party officials said.
Republican National Committee Chairman Robert Mike Duncan
told reporters in a conference call that Tuesday's focus will be on John McCain,
who will be formally nominated as the party's presidential candidate. Full story
ST. PAUL, Sept. 2 (Xinhua) -- Texas Congressman Ron
Paul, who sought Republican presidential nomination earlier this year, led a
rally of people unhappy with the two major political parties near the site of
Republican National Convention on Tuesday. Full story
ST. PAUL, the United States, Sept. 2 (Xinhua) --
Anti-war protesters promise on Tuesday more demonstrations and decry police
tactics, as the Republican National Convention enters day two in St. Paul, Minn.
Full story
ST. PAUL, United States, Sept. 2 (Xinhua) -- The
Republican National Convention (RNC), cut back Monday because of Hurricane
Gustav's landfall on U.S. Gulf Coast, will resume a full schedule Tuesday,
sources said. Full story
