VP Nominee Palin to Defend Her Experience at Republican National Convention

Washington, D.C.-03/09/2008--Republican vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin is expected to defend her experience as a small-town mayor and governor of Alaska in a highly-anticipated speech Wednesday night at the Republican National Convention.
In excerpts of her remarks released to the media, Palin, the first female Republican vice presidential candidate, will say Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama and his running mate Joe Biden "look down on her experience."

In her speech, Palin will also say she is "not a member of the permanent political establishment." She says she will go to Washington to serve the people of the United States, and not to seek the approval of the media and Washington elite.

After Palin's speech, the convention will formally nominate Senator John McCain for president and Palin for vice president.

In speeches to the convention, former rivals of McCain for the Republican nomination will defend Palin and criticize Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama.

In excerpts of their remarks released to the media, former New York City Mayor Rudolph Giuliani said Palin has "more executive experience than the entire Democratic ticket." Former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney said that unlike Obama, McCain understands that "radical Islam is evil" and will defeat it.

Former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee said "maybe the most dangerous threat of an Obama presidency is that he would continue to give madmen the benefit of the doubt."

Senator Obama has said he would be willing to hold talks with U.S. enemies such as Iran.

Senator McCain will accept the Republican presidential nomination on Thursday.

Senator Obama, speaking at a campaign stop Wednesday in Ohio, criticized the speakers at the Republican convention for not discussing the economy. He said McCain's campaign has tried to make the election about personality and not issues.

news source:VOA News