McCain aware of pregnancy 'last week'
Posted: Monday, September 01, 2008 2:43 PM by Domenico Montanaro
Filed Under:
Sarah Palin
From NBC's Mike Viqueira
Top McCain campaign official Steve Schmidt told a scrum of reporters in St. Paul that McCain was aware of Bristol Palin's pregnancy "last week," though he would not say specifically which day last week.
"Senator McCain was aware of this private family matter last week," he said, adding that the senator and governor "had a private conversation" where McCain "became aware" that Palin's daughter was pregnant. Schmidt was repeatedly asked whether McCain knew of the daughter's condition before the announcement on Friday, and each time he used a variation of, "He became aware last week in a private conversation."
Schmidt asserted several times that the Palin family deserves a measure of privacy in this matter. "Leave the kids alone. Leave the kids alone," he said.
He characterized the vetting process as "a thorough search," adding, "she (Palin) is going to help him (McCain) reform America."
"The American have good wishes for this young lady," Schmidt said, adding moments later: "The American people are not focused on nonsense, they are concerned with the well being of their fellow citizens" on the Gulf Coast.
