McCain Claims Palin Nomination a Hoax
(BroNet) Republican presidential candidate John McCain today accused the "liberal media" of perpetuating the widespread belief that Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin is his running mate.
"My friends," he told a crowd of supporters in Des Moines, Iowa, "I never selected, nor did the Republican Party confirm ... that one," gesturing to Palin, who stood smiling at his side. Persistent press reports that she is the Republican vice-presidential candidate are widely seen as having injured McCain's presidential aspirations.
"I don't know who started this lie," McCain said, "but it's clear that the liberal media is spreading it." A press package given to the media after the speech contained statistics purporting to show that 100% of media reports that mention his vice-presidential running mate refer to the candidate as 'Sarah Palin.'"
"Now, I'm sure Governor Palin is a fine American," he said, "but I've never met her, much less asked her to run as vice-president. Anyone who was at the Republican Convention knows that Joe Lieberman is my running mate."
McCain said that, despite a "partisan press that doesn't want real America to know the truth," the Connecticut senator has been on the McCain/Lieberman ticket since early September. The candidate insisted angrily that Lieberman was on stage with him at that very moment. "Who do you think this is, standing next to me?" he asked.
Governor Palin, who is campaigning in Iowa with McCain, could not be reached for comment.
