McCain defends VP pick

0 Comments | AFP, August, 2008

ST PAUL, Minnesota (AFP) — Republican White House candidate John McCain on Sunday defended his choice of Sarah Palin as running mate against Democratic claims she is dangerously inexperienced.

McCain's wife Cindy meanwhile said Palin credentials were bolstered by the fact that she hails from Alaska, the closest part of the US continent to Russia, to which her husband has adopted a tough political line.

"She's got the right judgement. She doesn't think like Senator Obama does that Iran is a minor irritant," McCain said an interview with Fox News Sunday on the eve of the Republican National Convention here.

"She's been a commander in chief of the Alaska national guard," said McCain, adding Palin's son, who is in the US Army, is shortly to be deployed to Iraq....