Palin says she's ready to step in as
president if something happened to McCain
ABC Interview:
Alaska
Gov. Sarah Palin said Thursday that she didn't blink when Republican
John McCain asked her to be his running mate, a surprise selection that
shook up the presidential race.
"I didn't hesitate, no," she told ABC's Charlie Gibson in her first
televised interview since accepting the Arizona senator's invitation to
be on the Republican ticket two weeks ago.
"I answered him 'yes' because I have the confidence in that readiness
and knowing that you can't blink, you have to be wired in a way of being
so committed to the mission, the mission that we're on, reform of this
country and victory in the war, you can't blink. So I didn't blink then
even when asked to run as his running mate," said the 44-year-old Palin,
a governor who has been in office less than two years.
Asked if she felt ready to step in as vice president or perhaps even
president if something happened to the 72-year-old McCain, Palin said:
"I do, Charlie, and on January 20, when John McCain and I are sworn in,
if we are so privileged to be elected to serve this country, we'll be
ready. I'm ready."
Gibson also read Palin a comment she made in her former church - "Our
national leaders are sending U.S. soldiers on a task that is from God" -
and asked whether she thought the United States was fighting a holy war.
Palin said she was recalling Abraham Lincoln's words when she made the
comment and said: "I would never presume to know God's will or to speak
God's words."
Asked if her son Track who is headed to Iraq was on a mission from God,
she said she didn't know about that.
"I don't know if the task is from God, Charlie," Palin said. "What I
know is that my son has made a decision. I am so proud of his
independent and strong decision he has made, what he decided to do and
serving for the right reasons and serving something greater than himself
and not choosing a real easy path where he could be more comfortable and
certainly safer."
