Palin to be a grandmother

Sarah Palin, the 44-year-old governor of Alaska who was chosen by John McCain on Friday to be his vice presidential candidate, confirmed today that her 17-year-old daughter is pregnant. In a statement from the Palin family, released through the McCain campaign team, it was admitted that Bristol Palin (pictured right behind Sarah and Todd Palin) is currently five months pregnant and is planning to marry the baby’s father. Bristol’s mother is famously pro life.

"Our beautiful daughter Bristol came to us with news that as parents we knew would make her grow up faster than we had ever planned. As Bristol faces the responsibilities of adulthood, she knows she has our unconditional love and support," the Palins said.

It is believed that Palin broke the news in order to counter rumours circulating that her own, most recent pregnancy, was faked. Blogs such as Gawker alleged that her most recent child, Trig, born with Down’s Syndrome, was in fact her daughter’s, and she had pretended to be the mother to save face.

Senior Republican campaign officials said McCain was fully aware of Bristol’s pregnancy when he made his decision to appoint Palin. According to a statement from the McCain camp today, the news was made public as a response to the "mud-slinging and lies" currently doing the rounds in the blogosphere. "The despicable rumours that have been spread by liberal blogs, some even with Barack Obama's name in them, is a real anchor around the Democratic ticket,” a senior McCain aide said.

FIRST POSTED SEPTEMBER 1, 2008