Affair claim is just a vicious lie says Palin

American vice-presidential candidate Sarah Palin has been accused of having an affair – just hours after delivering an electrifying debut speech to the Republican convention.

Sarah Palin Sarah Palin

Palin, 44, poured scorn on critics who have pounced on a series of controversies to emerge since her surprise choice as John McCain’s running mate. [>

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But US magazine the National Enquirer claimed on its front page yesterday that she once had an affair with one of her husband Todd’s business partners. [>

Our family has the same ups and downs as any other, the same challenges and the same joys

Sarah Palin

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It also alleged that before her nomination was announced she tried to arrange a speedy marriage between her pregnant daughter, Bristol, 17, and the father-to-be, self-confessed “redneck” Levi Johnston, 18. [>

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The report said the young couple refused in a showdown with Mrs Palin. McCain’s team threatened legal action, dismissing the claims as a “vicious lie” and “categorically false”.  [>

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McCain’s senior adviser Steve Schmidt said: “The efforts of the media and tabloids to destroy this fine and accomplished public servant are a disgrace. The American people will reject it.”

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But the magazine stood by its story, pointing to its long-running pursuit of former Democratic presidential candidate John Edwards who eventually admitted an affair after strident denials. [>

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Earlier Palin, 44, cast herself as McCain’s “pitbull in lipstick” as she accepted the number two position on her party’s ticket.  [>

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She brought the house down at the Minnesota convention and clearly set her sights on bringing Democratic opponent Barack Obama’s campaign down with a blistering attack. The mother of five children, including four-month-old Down’s syndrome son Trig, used the 36-minute speech, to introduce herself  as the “hockey mom” with grit.  [>

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“I love those hockey moms. You know what they say the difference is between a hockey mom and a pit bull? Lipstick,” she said. [>

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She blew a kiss to her three daughters, two sons and husband high up in the stands. The only reference Palin made to her daughter’s pregnancy out of wedlock was an oblique one. [>

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“Our family has the same ups and downs as any other, the same challenges and the same joys,” she said. [>

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She shrugged off question marks over her lack of experience as governor of Alaska for the past two years and previously mayor of her small Alaskan home town of Wasilla. [>

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“I guess being a small town mayor is kind of like being a community organiser – except you have actual responsibilities,” she added. [>

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She talked of victory in the war in Iraq being “within sight” and attacked Obama for wanting to withdraw troops and only talking about victory “for his own campaign”.[>

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** READ WHY PATRICK O'FLYNN THINKS PALIN WILL BE LOVED BY AMERICA **

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