Palin lauded for response to family crisis

The news that Sarah Palin's 17-year-old daughter is having a baby and marrying the father turned an awkward surprise into an affirmation of the vice presidential candidate's conservative credibility for many GOP convention delegates Monday.

Sen. John McCain's campaign confirmed the pregnancy after persistent Internet rumors that Palin's infant son is actually Bristol's child. McCain's campaign said Palin's daughter Bristol is five months pregnant.

"It used to be that a lot of those smears and the crap on the Internet stayed out of the newsrooms of serious journalists," senior McCain adviser Steve Schmidt told reporters. "That's not the case anymore."

But Kay Ayres, a Hillsboro, Ohio, delegate and vice chair of her state's party, showed no alarm. "That's Governor Palin's interest, not mine," she said. "Conservatives have family problems, as well -- unfortunately, we aren't immune."

A brief statement attributed to Sarah and Todd Palin and released by the campaign Monday said that Bristol Palin would keep her baby and marry the child's father. The baby is due in late December.

"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. We're proud of Bristol's decision to have her baby and even prouder to become grandparents.

"Bristol and the young man she will marry are going to realize very quickly the difficulties of raising a child, which is why they will have the love and support of our entire family," the parents said.

The campaign did not disclose the father's full name or age or how he and Bristol know each other, citing privacy.

The father was identified only as Levi.

The pregnancy prompted new questions for the McCain campaign about the process used to check out Palin before she was named the running mate.

Douglas Holtz-Eakin, director of policy for McCain's campaign, said the candidate knew about the pregnancy before he selected Palin. "She told the senator," he said. "The senator doesn't think it's relevant." He said the campaign has "full confidence in the vetting process."

Obama's reaction

Asked for his reaction, Democratic candidate Barack Obama said, "I've said before I think families are off-limits, children are off-limits. It has no relevance. I would strongly urge people to back off these kinds of stories. My mom had me when she was 18. And how families deal with issues of children shouldn't be part of our politics."

As delegates trickled into the convention, many of them heard the news for the first time from a reporter. The delegates were surprised, but they generally were positive and supportive of the Palin family.

Most said the governor's support of the pregnancy only further demonstrated Palin's commitment to a "pro-life" agenda. Many noted the governor herself recently carried to term her fifth child, Trig, whom she knew had Down syndrome before he was born.

Fayetteville, Ga., delegate Lane Watts said the teenager's pregnancy shouldn't affect the choice in the presidential race. "That is something that happens with teenage girls," he said. "It's refreshing to hear she's going to carry it to term. She's following the example of her mother and walking the walk."

He doesn't hold parents responsible for everything their children do. "You try to teach them right, but your kids are going to do what they're going to do," Watts said.

"They are going to do the honorable thing and get married," said delegate David Chung of Cedar Rapids, Iowa. "They will have the support of the Palin family. It's the right response to a family crisis."

Keri Brehm was part of a trio of women delegates from Castle Rock, Colo., wearing "Moms Trust McCain" T-shirts. "We should let them handle that as a family," she said.

No political problem

Virtually no one considered the baby a problem for the ticket.

"For most of the conservative base here, the fact that she's going to have the baby is a positive thing," said Tricia Greene of Little Rock, Ark.

She called it "affirming life even when life throws you a curveball."

Patti Johnson, a Canyon Lake, Texas, delegate, said the pregnancy is a family matter but added Bristol Palin could be the "poster child for the pro-life movement."

Bob Spindell, a Milwaukee delegate said the pregnancy also shows the governor's acceptance of different circumstances. "She does not look down on single mothers," he said. "It shows her true spirit."

Renowned conservative Phyllis Schlafly had already heard the news as she arrived at the Xcel arena as an alternate from her home state of Missouri.

"I understand they're going to be married," she said crisply. "I hope they are and that they live happily ever after."

Staff writer Pat Doyle and the Associated Press contributed to this report. Rochelle Olson • 612-673-1747