EXCLUSIVE: McCain: ‘Grateful’ that Palin was VP choice

Former presidential candidate Sen. John McCain said Thursday he has read Sarah Palin's book and has no regrets about picking her as a running mate.

"I felt honored to have Sarah," said Mr. McCain, Arizona Republican. "There's no doubt she energized our party and America. She's doing it today."

His praised came one day after defending top campaign advisers Steve Schmidt and Nicolle Wallace, whom Mrs. Palin criticized in her book, "Going Rogue: An American Life."

Mr. McCain said during the interview Thursday with The Washington Times' "American's Morning News" radio show that Mrs. Palin is a "political force in America."

He shocked the political world by picking Mrs. Palin, then a little-known Alaska governor.

"I'm very grateful she ran with me," Mr. McCain said.

He also said if Mrs. Palin decides to run for president in 2012 and becomes the Republican Party nominee he would vote for her.

"I hope she has every success," Mr. McCain said. "She's still pretty popular."

About the Author

Joseph Weber

Joseph Weber is a congressional reporter, his first job upon coming to Washington in 1992. Mr. Weber joined The Washington Times in 2002 as a metro desk editor and ran the section for several years, working on such stories as the Virginia Tech massacre, the Supreme Court case on the District’s handgun law, the D.C. snipers and the 2008 presidential ...

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