Rep. Young was less effusive but still positive. "I will actively support the McCain-Palin ticket to be elected our next president and vice president," he said.
Palin has found herself accused of crossing ethical boundaries in office. In 2002, when she was mayor of her hometown, Wasilla, she was accused of arranging campaign travel from her office and of using her secretary to pen thank-you notes to campaign contributors. She is also embroiled in a controversy now over alleged improper interference with the job of an Alaska state trooper named Mike Wooten, who is divorced from her sister.
The state Legislature is investigating her July firing of Public Safety Commissioner Walt Monegan, who claims he was sacked by Palin because he had refused to fire Wooten. On Friday, Monegan told the Anchorage Daily News that Palin had spoken with him on two occasions about firing Wooten. Monegan has also said that Palin's husband, Todd, spoke with him about the matter.
Both the Anchorage Daily News and the state's other leading paper, the Fairbanks Daily News-Miner, raised questions about whether Palin is prepared to lead the nation.
The Anchorage paper was enthusiastic. "You go, girl!" its editorial said. It credited her with bucking the GOP establishment and exhibiting a personal toughness that will be an asset to the GOP ticket.
But then it fretted:
"She's a total beginner on national and international issues. Gov. Palin will have to spend the next two months convincing Americans that she's ready to be a heartbeat away from the presidency."
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kim.murphy@latimes.com
robin.abcarian@latimes.com
Murphy reported from Anchorage, Abcarian from Minneapolis.
