PALIN'S PARTY

MAT-SU — Alaska’s Gov. Sarah Palin was in Washington, Pa., Saturday, campaiging for the No. 2 job in the nation.

In her new role as running mate of presumptive GOP presidential nominee John McCain, Palin will be crisscrossing the nation. Today, the “Road to the Convention Rally” is slated for a stop in O’Fallon, Mo., enroute to the GOP Convention in Minneapolis-St. Paul, which begins Monday.

Palin will officially accept the nomination at the convention Wednesday night.

McCain made the landmark VP announcement about 8:15 a.m. Alaska time on Friday.

“I have found the right partner to help me stand up to those who value their privileges over responsibilities,” McCain said at the announcement rally in Dayton, Ohio. “She’s exactly who I need.”

Palin was introduced to thunderous applause and thanked the Arizona senator for choosing her.

“I will be honored to be chosen as your running mate,” Palin said. “I will be honored to serve next to the next president of the United States.”

News of Palin’s possible vice-presidential candidacy swept across Alaska early Friday after national news outlets began reporting it. Palin’s new national position as a vice presidential candidate has set the Mat-Su Valley buzzing.

At Wasilla High School, principal Dwight Probasco said he made an announcement to students Friday morning. Palin is a 1982 graduate of Wasilla High.

Probasco said the school has been inundated by calls from national media about Palin. Wasilla High plans to make T-shirts commemorating the school’s star graduate.

Probasco said the shirts will read “Wasilla High School, home of Sarah Palin and the Warriors.”

Palin’s successor at Wasilla City Hall, Mayor Dianne M. Keller, said Friday she’s a very happy to be from the Last Frontier.

“This is a great day to be a female Alaskan, any Alaskan,” Keller said.

Keller served on the Wasilla City Council with Palin from 1996 to 2002 and said Palin has more administrative experience than Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama.

After watching Palin in action locally and at the state level, Keller said she’s confident Palin would make a good vice president.

“I have no doubt she is going to do a great job,” she said.

Palin, who is nearly three decades younger than McCain, is a former Wasilla mayor, high school basketball standout and was runner-up in the 1984 Miss Alaska beauty pageant. She served two terms on Wasilla City Council and two as mayor before a failed attempt at lieutenant governor in 2002. She rebounded to win the governor’s seat in 2006, running largely on a reform platform.

During her appearance at the McCain rally today, Palin touted McCain’s leadership.

“If you want change in Washington, if you hope for a better America, then we’re asking for your vote on the fourth of November,” Palin said.

Palin had previously said she was not pursuing the vice presidency and felt the position wouldn’t be offered, Palin’s press secretary Bill McAllister said. At that time, McAllister said she had things to do in Alaska.

“When the presidential candidate says, ‘Join me,’ it’s something you have to think seriously about,” McAllister said. “And obviously she did.”

Contact Michael Rovito at michael.rovito@frontiersman.com or 352-2252.

Editor’s note: Below find the original comment thread to this story. Additional comments may be added below.

PDXChick wrote on Sep 12, 2008 10:58 PM:

" Uhhh Roger? The only BS that Sarah holds that I'm aware of has nothing to do with a degree. She invented some unethical practices of her own (come on, stop reading with blinders on, there are confirmed reports that you can look up). I hear she's personable, smart, and feisty - and I have no problems with that! I do have a problem with the lies and attacks while claiming to have such holy standards. What a hypocrit. "

PDXChick wrote on Sep 12, 2008 7:27 PM:

" Uhhh Roger? The only BS that Sarah holds that I'm aware of has nothing to do with a degree. She invented some unethical practices of her own (come on, stop reading with blinders on, there are confirmed reports that you can look up). I hear she's personable, smart, and feisty - and I have no problems with that! I do have a problem with the lies and attacks while claiming to have such holy standards. What a hypocrit. "

T. Wolf wrote on Sep 5, 2008 12:44 PM:

" I think he thinks he can get her to become the Vice of President McCain. Who's taking care of the baby? Family values? "

Yukonkate wrote on Sep 4, 2008 8:10 AM:

" I am an Alaskan from Goose Bay outside of Wasilla on the Knik Road. Wasilla is a great town, Palin is not a great person. Wants to ban books and fire employees because they do not agree so she sidesteps the LAW to get what she wants. How is abstinance working for her and her family? Backpeddling on the Bridge to Nowhere - how disgusting, she is not my choice and it makes McCain look stupid as well. "

to TIRED OF IT wrote on Sep 3, 2008 12:49 AM:

" Of course she hired a lawyer. I would have a long time ago. I wouldn't trust Lyda (Corrupt Bastards Club) Green, or Andrew (Sour Grapes, Poor Loser) Halcro who spearheaded this lynch mob laughingly called an "investigation". Hollis French has his own private agenda of defending his friend Monegan. Besides, French leaked the words "possible impeachment" to the press before the investigation began. He has her guilty before he begins? Those corrupt bastards would love to get their personal playground (OUR legislature) back. Monegan needed to be fired. She can clean up DPS, too, just like the dairy board. "

Tired of it wrote on Sep 2, 2008 8:00 PM:

" Ethics? Look at what she's done with Troopergate. She went from Miss Innocent to hiring an attorney and pulling all types of twists to get out of the situation. For one who proclaimed innocence, she's doing alot of legal maneuvering. As an Alaskan I'm shocked at her display and even more shocked she was even elected. No party here but I do wish it would all just go away. This whole thing is a joke. "

Roger wrote on Sep 2, 2008 12:08 PM:

" I think you should look at her ethics. She didn't pander to criminals in Chicago. Obama did. She fought against un-ethical practices and won. By the way Margaret Thatcher was a good head of state, so why can't a woman do the job, and a BA in Journalism plus a BS. You should be ashamed. Biden is a liar who said Hussein should be removed in '96 but flopped in 2004. 4 shame. "

DTLincoln wrote on Sep 1, 2008 11:33 AM:

" How pathetic. A woman with only a BA in journalism, a woman with five kids who doesn't seem to really reflect "family values" and a woman who is being used by McCain to pit woman against woman and against blacks. What a joke on all of America. She is being used and so are all Americans. "

Native America wrote on Sep 1, 2008 6:01 AM:

" This is a great blessing for America. And her being a conservative female and not a product of the elitist left, she'll be as welcomed by the Obamamaniacs as Clarence Thomas was. Any independent thinker who shucks the shackles of radical feminism is to be scorned and ridiculed. You'll see many of their minions come on here and attack and her family and denigrate small town America. God bless Wasilla and God bless America! "

Kelly wrote on Aug 31, 2008 10:19 AM:

" Sarah Palin a heartbeat away for being Commander in Chief. Does that make anyone else a bit nervous? "

Bob Beckley wrote on Aug 31, 2008 6:56 AM:

" Rest of lyric from Nashville: SHE TRAVELS ON TO THE WHITEHOUSE FOR US A RECORD OF ETHICS IS HER BADGE OF TRUST THERE ARE CAMPFIRE LEGENDS THAT ALASKANS SING OF A WOMAN WITH TRUE GRIT, OF A WOMAN CALLED PALIN PALIN, PALIN, GLASS CEILING BREAKS PALIN, PALIN, TWO THOUSAND EIGHT GLASS CEILING BREAKS TWO THOUSAND EIGHT "

Bob Beckley wrote on Aug 31, 2008 6:54 AM:

" From Nashville, TN: GO SARAH!!! In two parts because of word count limit: BALLAD OF PALIN (©2008 Bob Beckley) HAVE BRAIN WILL TRAVEL READS THE CARD OF A GOV A BOLD, FEARLESS LEADER WHEN PUSH COMES TO SHOVE HER QUICK BRAIN FOR HIRE HEEDS THE WINDS OF CHANGE A GREAT CHOICE FOR V.P. TO A MAN CALLED MCCAIN PALIN, PALIN, GLASS CEILING BREAKS PALIN, PALIN, TWO THOUSAND EIGHT "

THEKNIGHT wrote on Aug 31, 2008 2:57 AM:

" Your home town girl, Sarah Palin has made it to the big time! This looks like a great move by McCain. I am sure she will can bring change to Washington! Check out Bradford-on-line, Talk about Bradford, Politics, Election 08, some like Sarah and some don't! "

Quick wrote on Aug 30, 2008 11:12 PM:

" get Keller out of office and hide her before the country starts learning of what she has done to Wasilla. "