Friday morning they got a call telling them to turn on the news. On the screen their daughter, Gov. Sarah Palin, was standing before a raucous crowd in Dayton, Ohio, accepting Republican presidential candidate Sen. John McCain’s offer to become his vice presidential running mate.
“I didn’t know,” Chuck Heath said in an interview at his home later Friday morning. “Sarah didn’t say a word to us.”
 ROBERT DeBERRY/Frontiersman Gov. Sarah Palin's parents, Chuck and Sally Heath, joke with each other in their Wasilla home Friday afternoon after learning she will be John McCain's runningmate for the 2008 presidential election. |
“On a one to 100 scale, it’s about 101,” Sally Heath said of her excitement level.
Chuck Heath said he and a friend were on their way to go gold mining and hunting when a flooded creek in a remote part of the Mat-Su Borough changed their plans.
Arriving back at home in the early morning hours, the Heaths got a call from a friend in Atlanta telling them to check the news to hear the fast-flying rumors. That’s when their day changed — big time.
“It was a total surprise,” Chuck Heath said of learning his daughter is the first woman to land on a GOP presidential ticket.
Both Heaths admitted to shedding lots of tears of happiness when they heard the news, but Chuck Heath said the waterworks have calmed down.
“So far, so good,” he said.
Although Palin’s new role in the McCain campaign, and the fact the Heaths hadn’t heard about it before the rest of the world Friday, is a shock, her success doesn’t surprise her family.
“She doesn’t like to bother us usually,” Chuck Heath said.
It’s unclear exactly when Palin herself knew she would become McCain’s running mate. Staff members in Palin’s administration said today they had no idea about McCain’s nomination until Friday morning. Palin’s press secretary, Bill McAllister, said he didn’t find out about the VP position until after 5:30 a.m. As late as 2:30 p.m. Thursday, Palin’s office sent out notices she would be at the Alaska State Fair on Friday to help launch the new Alaska state quarter.
Back at the Heath house, Chuck Heath showed off pictures of his governor daughter from years past. He showed with particular pride a photograph of Palin shooting a caribou.
Sally Heath said the governor called home just after her acceptance speech in Dayton to tell her parents they’ll be on a plane soon to attend the Republican National Convention, which is scheduled to begin Monday.
“She just told us to plan to go down there,” Sally Heath said.
As to the next few months of national campaigning, both Heaths said they think their daughter is ready to take the national stage.
“We’ll see what the next page is,” Sally Heath said.
Contact Michael Rovito at michael.rovito@frontiersman.com or 352-2252.
Comments
24 comment(s)Comedy wrote on Sep 13, 2008 2:00 AM:
" I'm sure the Alaskans, all 117 of them..." :D This was actually hilarious - thanks for the great sense of humor!
"We love surprises!" It's a good thing, cuz if these two have anything to do with things, there's plenty coming our way - and not of the good or happy variety. "
The Shaw Family wrote on Sep 2, 2008 2:41 PM:
Marshall Judy Inabinette wrote on Sep 1, 2008 9:56 AM:
I get calls every day and have taken on a somewhat "celebrity" status now.
WAY TO GO!!!! "
sandy wrote on Sep 1, 2008 8:18 AM:
Tony J. Holguin La Verne California wrote on Aug 31, 2008 10:31 PM:
CTA member wrote on Aug 31, 2008 10:04 AM:
Gail wrote on Aug 30, 2008 10:48 PM:
nh native wrote on Aug 30, 2008 8:14 PM:
Jay from Oklahoma wrote on Aug 30, 2008 5:41 PM:
God Bless Alaska for producing a great civic leader, and God Bless John McCain for recognizing her achievements. She definitely has more experience at running a government then the two that are running for the Dems. "
Interesting wrote on Aug 30, 2008 4:53 PM:
Kay in Texas wrote on Aug 30, 2008 4:01 PM:
Kay in Texas wrote on Aug 30, 2008 3:47 PM:
Robin Bissey wrote on Aug 30, 2008 2:51 PM:
Kirk Kramer wrote on Aug 30, 2008 11:50 AM:
God bless Gov. Palin & her family, God bless the people of Wasilla, God bless America.
Kirk from Washington DC "
Chris Mike wrote on Aug 30, 2008 11:29 AM:
To say that you have made our days the past few days is an understatement! My husband has been serving with the Wyoming National Guard for over 30 years, with the military for almost 34. He has been deployed with some of the Alaska Guards in the past, and was very impressed with them. We have been talking for the last few years about retiring up to Wasilla and are as proud as proud can be to have you a real life citizen in the running for our VP! Hockey Mom, hunters ourselves. GO SARAH!!! GodSpeed Track "
Kathy Gibson wrote on Aug 30, 2008 11:10 AM:
Doug M wrote on Aug 29, 2008 8:35 PM:
Joe Craigen wrote on Aug 29, 2008 7:33 PM:
Wil Rivait wrote on Aug 29, 2008 6:16 PM:
I'm from Windsor, Ontario, Canada and a US citizen for the last twenty years living/working on Sanibel Island, Florida and get what a hockey mom is? My mother did it for me! I also have 5 children and we need some good common sense people running our government. From the Deep South to the Great White North!
Congratulations! Go McCain/Palin!
We're with you 100%!!
THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE!
Betsy & Wil Rivait
Sanibel/Captiva/Fort Myers, Florida "
M Haner wrote on Aug 29, 2008 5:49 PM:
Charlene wrote on Aug 29, 2008 5:32 PM:
Lisa Allington wrote on Aug 29, 2008 5:27 PM:
yipeeeee wrote on Aug 29, 2008 3:22 PM:
Ellen Varosi wrote on Aug 29, 2008 2:45 PM:
The speech was perfect! This is a big day for Cottonwood Creek Elementary, Wasilla, Alaska and the nation.
We love surprises!
Ellen Varosi "