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Alaskans praise 'hockey mom' Palin | Alaskans praise 'hockey mom' Palin |
(about 2 hours later) | |
The choice of Alaska Governor Sarah Palin as Republican presidential hopeful John McCain's running mate has turned the spotlight on her remote state. | The choice of Alaska Governor Sarah Palin as Republican presidential hopeful John McCain's running mate has turned the spotlight on her remote state. |
The BBC's Rajesh Mirchandani travelled to Mrs Palin's hometown of Wasilla to find out more about her from the people who know her. | The BBC's Rajesh Mirchandani travelled to Mrs Palin's hometown of Wasilla to find out more about her from the people who know her. |
The rat race is a favourite for thousands at Alaska's state fair | The rat race is a favourite for thousands at Alaska's state fair |
"The wheel goes round, the rat comes out, here we go!" the man running a stall at the Alaska state fair shouts. There are whoops and cheers from the crowd. | "The wheel goes round, the rat comes out, here we go!" the man running a stall at the Alaska state fair shouts. There are whoops and cheers from the crowd. |
A horizontal wooden disc starts to spin; it is painted in multi-coloured segments, each with a hole at the outer edge. | A horizontal wooden disc starts to spin; it is painted in multi-coloured segments, each with a hole at the outer edge. |
The man pulls a cord and a fluffy, covered cage lifts up from the middle of the wheel, revealing a rat. A rather perturbed-looking rat. | The man pulls a cord and a fluffy, covered cage lifts up from the middle of the wheel, revealing a rat. A rather perturbed-looking rat. |
This is the rat race. Among the prize-winning vegetables and tractor competitions, it is a favourite of the thousands who come to the fair each year. | This is the rat race. Among the prize-winning vegetables and tractor competitions, it is a favourite of the thousands who come to the fair each year. |
People bet on which hole the poor animal will dash into as the wheel spins. Some might call it cruel. Few in Alaska would. | People bet on which hole the poor animal will dash into as the wheel spins. Some might call it cruel. Few in Alaska would. |
'Chicks rule!' | 'Chicks rule!' |
This is a state of superlatives. America's largest, northernmost and emptiest. | This is a state of superlatives. America's largest, northernmost and emptiest. |
Alaskans are very proud of their fair and state | Alaskans are very proud of their fair and state |
It covers an area equal to a fifth of the rest of the US, but is home to only 750,000 people. Its mountains are its skyscrapers, wild roaming moose the likely cause of traffic jams. | It covers an area equal to a fifth of the rest of the US, but is home to only 750,000 people. Its mountains are its skyscrapers, wild roaming moose the likely cause of traffic jams. |
But clearly, as the state fair shows, you can't entirely escape the rat race. | But clearly, as the state fair shows, you can't entirely escape the rat race. |
Alaskans are very proud of their land, and of their governor too, Sarah Palin, who could become America's next vice-president. | Alaskans are very proud of their land, and of their governor too, Sarah Palin, who could become America's next vice-president. |
At the fair in Palmer, some 40 miles (64km) north of Anchorage, the T-shirt stall sold 600 "McCain - Palin" designs in a few hours. | At the fair in Palmer, some 40 miles (64km) north of Anchorage, the T-shirt stall sold 600 "McCain - Palin" designs in a few hours. |
"Chicks rule!" one woman said as she bought hers. | "Chicks rule!" one woman said as she bought hers. |
A couple walk through the crowd with brand new sweatshirts with "Go Sarah!" logos. | A couple walk through the crowd with brand new sweatshirts with "Go Sarah!" logos. |
'Best thing' | 'Best thing' |
Another woman, with her young son, described Mrs Palin as "honest and hard-working". | Another woman, with her young son, described Mrs Palin as "honest and hard-working". |
She's a breath of fresh air as the governor John Wedin, Democratic supporter | She's a breath of fresh air as the governor John Wedin, Democratic supporter |
"She understands the plight of the American family. She speaks our language, basically," the woman said. | "She understands the plight of the American family. She speaks our language, basically," the woman said. |
"[Sarah Palin is] the best thing that ever happened to Alaska... if we ever want to have a lady Number One or Number Two, now's the chance," a man in the crowd said. | "[Sarah Palin is] the best thing that ever happened to Alaska... if we ever want to have a lady Number One or Number Two, now's the chance," a man in the crowd said. |
Republican campaigners hope she can appeal to wavering Democrats, especially Hillary Clinton supporters. | Republican campaigners hope she can appeal to wavering Democrats, especially Hillary Clinton supporters. |
Democrats are something of a rare breed in Alaska. | Democrats are something of a rare breed in Alaska. |
At the fair, their tent was a quiet haven. John Wedin and Cheri Gillian - two Democratic supporters wandering in the crowd - admitted that Mrs Palin had an appeal. | At the fair, their tent was a quiet haven. John Wedin and Cheri Gillian - two Democratic supporters wandering in the crowd - admitted that Mrs Palin had an appeal. |
"She's a breath of fresh air as the governor," said Mr Wedin. "I'm a Democrat, I didn't vote for her, but you know [she is] definitely better than the alternatives on the Republican side." | "She's a breath of fresh air as the governor," said Mr Wedin. "I'm a Democrat, I didn't vote for her, but you know [she is] definitely better than the alternatives on the Republican side." |
Ms Gillian wondered about Mrs Palin's ability to cope with the role she may be elected to perform. | Ms Gillian wondered about Mrs Palin's ability to cope with the role she may be elected to perform. |
"The vice-presidency and the candidacy for the vice-presidency is a demanding job. So is she a politician or is she a mom?" she asked. | "The vice-presidency and the candidacy for the vice-presidency is a demanding job. So is she a politician or is she a mom?" she asked. |
'Hockey mom' | 'Hockey mom' |
Mrs Palin would say she is both. | Mrs Palin would say she is both. |
Mrs Hugli and Mr Schulz praise Mrs Palin for her "team spirit" | Mrs Hugli and Mr Schulz praise Mrs Palin for her "team spirit" |
She is also a keen hunter and member of the National Rifle Association. | She is also a keen hunter and member of the National Rifle Association. |
Her husband (and childhood sweetheart) Todd is a snowmobile champion. | |
They have five children: their eldest son Track will deploy to Iraq next week. They are deeply religious, Mrs Palin opposes abortion. | They have five children: their eldest son Track will deploy to Iraq next week. They are deeply religious, Mrs Palin opposes abortion. |
She calls herself "a hockey mom": family-focused with the same hopes and fears as ordinary folk. | She calls herself "a hockey mom": family-focused with the same hopes and fears as ordinary folk. |
Another hockey mom is Sheree Hugli who, with her husband William Schulz, has been running a food stall at the state fair for more than 20 years. They enjoyed school sports events with the Palin family. | Another hockey mom is Sheree Hugli who, with her husband William Schulz, has been running a food stall at the state fair for more than 20 years. They enjoyed school sports events with the Palin family. |
"She's always either in the score-keeper's box or at the spirit table selling sweatshirts," says Mrs Hugli of Mrs Palin. "She shows a lot of team spirit and enthusiasm." | "She's always either in the score-keeper's box or at the spirit table selling sweatshirts," says Mrs Hugli of Mrs Palin. "She shows a lot of team spirit and enthusiasm." |
Pregnancy issue | Pregnancy issue |
Mrs Palin's strong family values have gone down well in Alaska and, Republican campaigners hope, will appeal nationwide, particularly to conservative Christians. | Mrs Palin's strong family values have gone down well in Alaska and, Republican campaigners hope, will appeal nationwide, particularly to conservative Christians. |
But how does that square with the revelation that her unmarried teenage daughter is pregnant? | But how does that square with the revelation that her unmarried teenage daughter is pregnant? |
Mrs Hugli and Mr Schulz agree with Mrs Palin that it is a private matter that, in the long run, won't matter. | Mrs Hugli and Mr Schulz agree with Mrs Palin that it is a private matter that, in the long run, won't matter. |
"I don't think it would reflect on her moral stability," says Mr Schulz. "Just because her family member has a mishap... | "I don't think it would reflect on her moral stability," says Mr Schulz. "Just because her family member has a mishap... |
"I believe that she gives her daughter strong beliefs too, to keep the baby," he adds. | "I believe that she gives her daughter strong beliefs too, to keep the baby," he adds. |
"It's something that happens everyday, maybe that's where her daughter was at. You know, it's not my place to judge," Mrs Hugli agrees. | "It's something that happens everyday, maybe that's where her daughter was at. You know, it's not my place to judge," Mrs Hugli agrees. |
Credentials 'beyond doubt' | Credentials 'beyond doubt' |
But Americans will judge Mrs Palin on every aspect of her life, as they decide how to vote in two months' time. | But Americans will judge Mrs Palin on every aspect of her life, as they decide how to vote in two months' time. |
Dwight Coppock says Mrs Palin has transformed Wasilla | Dwight Coppock says Mrs Palin has transformed Wasilla |
Of particular interest will be her leadership ability. That can be traced back to Wasilla, a town 14 miles (23km) from the fairground, with a population of 6,715. | Of particular interest will be her leadership ability. That can be traced back to Wasilla, a town 14 miles (23km) from the fairground, with a population of 6,715. |
Sarah Palin was a basketball star while at Wasilla High School, then spent a decade in local government, first as a city councillor, then as mayor. | Sarah Palin was a basketball star while at Wasilla High School, then spent a decade in local government, first as a city councillor, then as mayor. |
The majority of her political experience comes from running this town, where "total local city annual revenue" is $12.7m (£7m). | The majority of her political experience comes from running this town, where "total local city annual revenue" is $12.7m (£7m). |
In Wasilla, no building is more than two storeys high and the sparse urban area soon gives way to pine forests and mountains. | In Wasilla, no building is more than two storeys high and the sparse urban area soon gives way to pine forests and mountains. |
It sits in one of Alaska's fastest-growing regions, Matanuska-Susitna Borough, some 30 miles (48km) north of Anchorage, and is home to many commuters. | It sits in one of Alaska's fastest-growing regions, Matanuska-Susitna Borough, some 30 miles (48km) north of Anchorage, and is home to many commuters. |
The town is sliced nearly in half by the Parks Highway and the railroad. Strip malls, motor repairs and tiny coffee shacks are a familiar sight. | The town is sliced nearly in half by the Parks Highway and the railroad. Strip malls, motor repairs and tiny coffee shacks are a familiar sight. |
Mrs Palin built a reputation here for not always going by the book to get things done. | Mrs Palin built a reputation here for not always going by the book to get things done. |
She went against traditional Republican principles and persuaded townsfolk to accept a small increase in sales tax, in order to pay for a new multi-use sports centre. | She went against traditional Republican principles and persuaded townsfolk to accept a small increase in sales tax, in order to pay for a new multi-use sports centre. |
She is currently being investigated over the sacking of a public official with links to her family. She says she has nothing to hide in the matter. | She is currently being investigated over the sacking of a public official with links to her family. She says she has nothing to hide in the matter. |
In the Windbreak diner, more commonly known as Trout's House, after the owner who was a keen fisherman, I met Dwight Coppock, who was president of the local Chamber of Commerce while Palin was mayor. | In the Windbreak diner, more commonly known as Trout's House, after the owner who was a keen fisherman, I met Dwight Coppock, who was president of the local Chamber of Commerce while Palin was mayor. |
He told me, whatever her faults may be, her economic credentials are beyond doubt. | He told me, whatever her faults may be, her economic credentials are beyond doubt. |
"Wasilla, under her administration, became a city that no longer operated on revenues it projected it would be receiving, say, next year," Mr Coppock says. | "Wasilla, under her administration, became a city that no longer operated on revenues it projected it would be receiving, say, next year," Mr Coppock says. |
"They built their budget... on money... they already had in the bank. Frankly, I don't know of another city or government agency that operates that way." | "They built their budget... on money... they already had in the bank. Frankly, I don't know of another city or government agency that operates that way." |
In more ways than one, Wasilla is about as far from Washington as you can get. | In more ways than one, Wasilla is about as far from Washington as you can get. |
For many Republicans, that's the point. And for many Alaskans, at least, that's part of the appeal of Sarah Palin. | For many Republicans, that's the point. And for many Alaskans, at least, that's part of the appeal of Sarah Palin. |
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