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| Republican presidential candidate Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., greets his vice presidential running mate Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, as their families watch as he arrives in Minneapolis, where he will attend the Republican National Convention in St. Paul, Minn., Wednesday, Sept. 3, 2008. |
ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) -- Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin cast herself as an outsider and took a swipe at Democrat Barack Obama on Wednesday in what was the most anticipated speech of the Republican National Convention. She pledged that as John McCain's running mate, she wanted to go to Washington not to seek the media's approval but "to serve the people of this country."
Depicting herself as "just your average hockey mom," Palin described her political career as mayor of her small town before her election as governor.
"Since our opponents in this presidential election seem to look down on that experience, let me explain to them what the job involves," Palin said in excerpts of her remarks, released in advance of her appearance. "I guess a small-town mayor is sort of like a `community organizer,' except that you have actual responsibilities."
Palin didn't mention Obama by name but her target was obvious: Obama began his political life as a community organizer.
Palin also said she was not part of the permanent "Washington elite." She said some in the media think that makes her unqualified.
"Here's a little news flash for all those reporters and commentators: I'm not going to Washington to seek their good opinion - I'm going to Washington to serve the people of the country," Palin said.
