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| Palin makes US convention debut | Palin makes US convention debut |
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| John McCain's running mate, Sarah Palin, has walked on stage to a rapturous reception to deliver a key speech at the US Republican convention. | John McCain's running mate, Sarah Palin, has walked on stage to a rapturous reception to deliver a key speech at the US Republican convention. |
| Mrs Palin praised the "determination, resolve and sheer guts" of Mr McCain and said she was honoured to help him. | |
| The Alaska governor's speech comes amid scrutiny of her record and after news her daughter, 17, is pregnant. | |
| Former Governors Mitt Romney and Mike Huckabee opened the night by hailing Mr McCain and attacking the Democrats. | Former Governors Mitt Romney and Mike Huckabee opened the night by hailing Mr McCain and attacking the Democrats. |
| Mr McCain is due to be nominated as the party's presidential candidate later. | Mr McCain is due to be nominated as the party's presidential candidate later. |
| Mrs Palin is giving her much-anticipated address to a packed and enthusiastic convention floor in St Paul. [John McCain] sees a partner in Sarah who will help him reform Washington - not just talk about it McCain adviser Carly Fiorina on Sarah Palin class="" href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/thereporters/justinwebb/2008/09/carly_fiorina_on_sarah_palin.html">Webb's America class="" href="/1/hi/in_depth/americas/2008/vote_usa_2008/7597122.stm">Republican Convention diary class="" href="/1/hi/in_pictures/7597221.stm">In pictures: Convention day three | |
| She spoke of her family, including her eldest son, who is about to be deployed to Iraq in the US Army, and her youngest son, who has Down's Syndrome. | |
| Mrs Palin highlighted her background as a small town "average hockey mom" and stressed the fact that she is not part of the "Washington elite". | |
| According to excerpts of her speech released to the media, the mother-of-five was also expected to go on the attack against Democratic candidate Barack Obama, who is running on a "change" agenda, saying: "In politics, there are some candidates who use change to promote their careers. | |
| "And then there are those, like John McCain, who use their careers to promote change." | "And then there are those, like John McCain, who use their careers to promote change." |
| Mrs Palin - who supports drilling for oil in Alaska's Arctic National Wildlife Refuge - was also to talk about energy policy, saying that while drilling "will not solve all of America's energy problems", that is "no excuse to do nothing at all". | |
| Democrats under fire | |
| Mr Romney, a one-time rival of Mr McCain for the Republican nomination, used his speech to hammer the Democrats over their "liberal" agenda. | Mr Romney, a one-time rival of Mr McCain for the Republican nomination, used his speech to hammer the Democrats over their "liberal" agenda. |
| Romney urges vote for McCain | |
| "We have a prescription for every American who wants change in Washington - throw out the big government liberals and elect John McCain," the former Massachusetts governor said. | "We have a prescription for every American who wants change in Washington - throw out the big government liberals and elect John McCain," the former Massachusetts governor said. |
| He also lauded Mr McCain's national security credentials, saying he was the presidential contender who would defeat "evil" radical Islam. | |
| Mr Huckabee, also a former rival of Mr McCain, joked that he had hoped to be giving the speech on Thursday night - when Mr McCain will accept the party's nomination to run for president in November's election. | Mr Huckabee, also a former rival of Mr McCain, joked that he had hoped to be giving the speech on Thursday night - when Mr McCain will accept the party's nomination to run for president in November's election. |
| But, he said, he was delighted to be speaking for his second choice, Mr McCain - "a man with the character and stubborn kind of integrity that we need in a president". | But, he said, he was delighted to be speaking for his second choice, Mr McCain - "a man with the character and stubborn kind of integrity that we need in a president". |
| He defended Mrs Palin against criticism from the media, saying its coverage had been "tackier than a costume change at a Madonna concert", and attacked the Democrats' vice-presidential candidate Joe Biden. | He defended Mrs Palin against criticism from the media, saying its coverage had been "tackier than a costume change at a Madonna concert", and attacked the Democrats' vice-presidential candidate Joe Biden. |
| "I am so tired of hearing about her lack of experience. She got more votes running for mayor of Wasilla, Alaska, than Joe Biden got running for president of the United States," he said, referring to Mr Biden's performance in the Democratic primaries. | "I am so tired of hearing about her lack of experience. She got more votes running for mayor of Wasilla, Alaska, than Joe Biden got running for president of the United States," he said, referring to Mr Biden's performance in the Democratic primaries. |
| Mr McCain's campaign has rejected claims it did not vet Mrs Palin properly | |
| Former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani followed Mr Huckabee on stage, the last major speaker before Mrs Palin. He called the 2008 presidential election a "turning point" for the people of the US. | Former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani followed Mr Huckabee on stage, the last major speaker before Mrs Palin. He called the 2008 presidential election a "turning point" for the people of the US. |
| He charged the Democrats with being in denial about the threat from terrorism and said Mr McCain had the foreign policy, national security and leadership experience that counted. | He charged the Democrats with being in denial about the threat from terrorism and said Mr McCain had the foreign policy, national security and leadership experience that counted. |
| "The choice in this election comes down to substance over style," he said. "John has been tested. Barack Obama has not. Tough times require strong leadership, and this is no time for on the job training." | "The choice in this election comes down to substance over style," he said. "John has been tested. Barack Obama has not. Tough times require strong leadership, and this is no time for on the job training." |
| He also praised Mrs Palin's performance as mayor of Wasilla and governor of her state, saying "she's already had more executive experience than the entire Democratic ticket". | He also praised Mrs Palin's performance as mayor of Wasilla and governor of her state, saying "she's already had more executive experience than the entire Democratic ticket". |
| 'Faux media scandal' | 'Faux media scandal' |
| Mrs Palin and her family greeted Mr McCain at the airport as he arrived in Minnesota on Wednesday. | Mrs Palin and her family greeted Mr McCain at the airport as he arrived in Minnesota on Wednesday. |
| Among the party were Mrs Palin's pregnant daughter, Bristol, and the boyfriend she plans to marry, 18-year-old Levi Johnston. | Among the party were Mrs Palin's pregnant daughter, Bristol, and the boyfriend she plans to marry, 18-year-old Levi Johnston. |
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| Bristol Palin and boyfriend greet John McCain at Minneapolis-St Paul airport | Bristol Palin and boyfriend greet John McCain at Minneapolis-St Paul airport |
| Ahead of her address, senior McCain campaign adviser Steve Schmidt issued a statement saying that media questions over how thoroughly Mrs Palin was vetted should end. | Ahead of her address, senior McCain campaign adviser Steve Schmidt issued a statement saying that media questions over how thoroughly Mrs Palin was vetted should end. |
| "This vetting controversy is a faux media scandal designed to destroy the first female Republican nominee for vice president of the United States who has never been a part of the old boys' network that has come to dominate the news establishment of this country," the statement said. | "This vetting controversy is a faux media scandal designed to destroy the first female Republican nominee for vice president of the United States who has never been a part of the old boys' network that has come to dominate the news establishment of this country," the statement said. |
| It has also been revealed that an attorney has been hired to represent Mrs Palin in an Alaska state ethics investigation involving alleged abuse of power.Voters in Minnesota give their views on Republican Sarah Palin and her daughter's pregnancyIn pictures | It has also been revealed that an attorney has been hired to represent Mrs Palin in an Alaska state ethics investigation involving alleged abuse of power.Voters in Minnesota give their views on Republican Sarah Palin and her daughter's pregnancyIn pictures |
| Mrs Palin is being investigated over the dismissal of a state public safety commissioner, whom she allegedly sacked because he did not dismiss her brother-in-law, a state trooper, involved in a contentious divorce and child custody battle with her younger sister. | Mrs Palin is being investigated over the dismissal of a state public safety commissioner, whom she allegedly sacked because he did not dismiss her brother-in-law, a state trooper, involved in a contentious divorce and child custody battle with her younger sister. |
| Sarah Palin told US network CNBC she had "nothing to hide". Her deposition is expected to be scheduled soon. | Sarah Palin told US network CNBC she had "nothing to hide". Her deposition is expected to be scheduled soon. |
| There have also been reports that Mrs Palin sought special financial favours for her city and state - something that the McCain campaign is against. | There have also been reports that Mrs Palin sought special financial favours for her city and state - something that the McCain campaign is against. |
| Mrs Palin was elected governor of Alaska in 2006 and before that was mayor of the small town of Wasilla, Alaska. | Mrs Palin was elected governor of Alaska in 2006 and before that was mayor of the small town of Wasilla, Alaska. |
| What is your reaction to the Republican convention? Tell us your thoughts on the event so far by filling in the form below. | What is your reaction to the Republican convention? Tell us your thoughts on the event so far by filling in the form below. |