After casting vote, Palin discusses her future
Gov. Sarah Palin cast her vote in Wasilla, Alaska and spoke to reporters about her future.(AP PHOTO)
WASILLA, Alaska (CNN) - Sarah Palin appeared calm and confident Tuesday morning during her brief sojourn to Wasilla, Alaska, where she greeted hometown supporters and cast her ballot before departing for Phoenix to join John McCain for an election night rally.
The governor voted shortly after 7 a.m. at her former workplace, Wasilla City Hall. According to the National Weather Service, the temperature at the time was 18 degrees.
Wearing jeans and accompanied by her husband Todd, Palin told reporters who had gathered to watch her vote that she is “very optimistic.”
“Now tomorrow, I hope, I pray, I believe that I'll be able to wake up as Vice President elect, and be able to get to work in a transition mode with the President elect, John McCain,” she said.
Palin refused to say if she had voted to re-elect Republican Sen. Ted Stevens, who was convicted last week of seven felony corruption charges.
“I am also exercising my right to privacy, and I don't have to tell anybody who I vote for, nobody does, and that’s really cool about America also,” she said.
Savoring her final solo appearance as a vice presidential candidate, Palin lingered for several minutes in front of local and national media, taking question after question despite multiple attempts by her staff to end the press conference.
The campaign entourage made two coffee runs while in Wasilla, stopping first in Kaladi Coffee, where the governor ordered two lattes and five regular coffees for her secret service agents.
Before leaving the shop, Palin noticed Tuesday’s edition of the Anchorage Daily News, which led with the news that Alaska’s Personnel Board had cleared the governor of any wrongdoing in the firing of the state’s public safety commissioner. “Board exonerates Palin,” blared the paper’s front page.
Palin showed it to an aide and called it a “nice headline.”
An hour later, she made another pit stop for caffeine, this time visiting Mocha Moose, one of the town’s many free-standing coffee huts. The store’s owners had hung a red banner reading “Palin Fever” by the drive-thru window.
As she waited for her beverages, a local reporter asked the governor how she envisions her role in national politics if McCain loses the election. Palin did not hesitate to muse about a future that might not include being vice president come January.
“You know, if there is a role in national politics it won’t be so much partisan,” she said. “My efforts have always been here in the state of Alaska to get everybody to unite and work together and progress this state.”
“It would certainly be a uniter type of role,” she added.
Asked if she had any regrets about the campaign, Palin bemoaned “the state of journalism today.”
“The blogosphere, the two, three hour news cycles, where just too much is reported based on gossip and innuendo and things taken out of context,” she explained, adding that she’d like to help improve the profession because she has “great respect for the world of journalism.”
You are kidding... Sarah Palin is amazing. Here's hoping she is the future of the GOP.
What's "really cool about America also" is that that "right to privacy" has been interpreted by the United States Supreme Court to guarantee abortion rights for American women.
Isn't that right, Sarah?
Obama/Biden '08
Love her, love her! You go Palin!
Pat, get a grip and come into the 21st century. Sarah Palin is a smart, articulate, savvy politician who just happens to be a female. I'd guess you were a male, am i right?
“...where just too much is reported based on gossip and innuendo and things taken out of context” – holy crap! and what is "pals around with terrorists" and "spread the wealth" – pot calling the kettle black!
Gossip, innuendo, taking things out of context? Hmmm...where have we seen that before?
I'm surprised – she can actually use the voting machine.
Maybe after the election she can go home and try something really new...being a mom!
She might be an all right governor but no where near presidential material!
Bye bye and best of luck!
I wonder if Alaskans realize that they are now regarded as socialists since Palin took money from the oil companies and distributed $3,000 to each Alaskan. Maybe that was the Alaska Independent Party's agenda all along.
Palin Said : "The blogosphere, the two, three hour news cycles, where just too much is reported based on gossip and innuendo and things taken out of context,” she explained, adding that she’d like to help improve the profession because she has “great respect for the world of journalism.”
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How funny this is. She attached Obama based on gossip and innendo. What a fraud she is.
She used everything out of context, and now she's complaining
I think his Palin decision notwithstanding, John McCain ran a good campaign. His policies are wrong for the country, but he is a great man, and he deserves our respect.
Kaladi Coffee? Sounds Muslim...
“I am also exercising my right to privacy, and I don't have to tell anybody who I vote for, nobody does, and that’s really cool about America also,”.
Ya think she voted for Obama?
I PRAY THAT SHE DOESN'T WAKE UP V.P. ELECT!!
"help improve the profession of journalism".... From a woman who couldnt name one newpaper or magazine she reads...
That was kind of gracious of her. Where has "she" been the past two months?
i hope she takes grammar lessons, no matter where she ends up.
McCain will loose the election because he IS more of the same! And because he ran a poorly organized campaign! And because he was able to show that he indeed was a maverick and had good judgement, HE BUCKLED UNDER PRESSURE and chose Palin!!!!
McCain NOT President material, No way, No how!
McCain was the cause of his lost of this election if he looses. He should have stood his ground and picked who he wanted. Not whom he was told to pick.
Let's pray that she stays in Alaska. She has a lot to learn. The prank call from Canada, totally revealed, how unprepared and naive, Sarah is, if she is to be the VP.
Gosh, I hope she's around to run for president in 2012! Why? Because I'm a Democrat. Not since Dan Quayle have Republicans backed such a dope.
Palin bemoans the state of journalism today? I didn't blame the SAT for the questions I got wrong.
I love how neocons blame the media for everything, half of whom are solidly in the tank for them (yes, talk radio counts, too).
She has "great respect for the world of journalism"....except for that probing, pesky-question-asking, "gotcha" media. Give me a break. Whoever thinks this small-minded trainwreck could run our nation of 300 million after governing a state of 500,000 crazies who choose to live in the Arctic Circle should really ... I dunno ... think about it for longer than it takes to listen to a catchphrase.
“I am also exercising my right to privacy, and I don't have to tell anybody who I vote for, nobody does, and that’s really cool about America also,” she said.
What a sophomoric statement, poor use of language and not "cool" use of language.
God chooses the greater good...in this case, it will be Obama who wakes up as President. More likely to go to bed as President.
Sarah ... don't hold your breath while praying or sleeping in anticipation of being the VP elect ... it's not going to happen! America will not elect a know-nothing hate-monger such as yourself and a creatin like McCain!!