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Levi Johnston to join Palin family at convention

(Agencies)
Updated: 2008-09-03 09:01

The intense media scrutiny has stunned this suburban community about 40 miles (64 kilometers) north of Anchorage, with reporters camping out near the Johnston home.

"This is out of my league," Sherry Johnston said. "I'm just a country gal, and I want to keep it that way."

Related readings:  Palin says daughter, 17, is pregnant  Vetter: Palin received full background check  McCain fought money for teen pregnancy programs  Sarah Palin is McCain's surprise choice

She spoke Tuesday while standing in the driveway leading to her pale gray, two-story home situated on a densely wooded country lane. The home, like many in Alaska, is adorned with moose and caribou antlers outside.

Many social conservatives have rallied behind Palin and her family's troubles. The McCain campaign has said the Palins are like any other American family and that "life happens."

Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama said that Palin's family and her daughter's pregnancy were not relevant to her potential performance as vice president.

"I think people's families are off limits," Obama said. "And people's children are especially off limits. This shouldn't be part of our politics."

Just days after she was picked as McCain's running mate, Palin has become a lightening rod for attention.

Aside from her daughter's pregnancy, it was disclosed that a private attorney has been retained for her in a legislative ethics investigation for her dismissal of Alaska's public safety commissioner. It also was disclosed that Palin's husband had been arrested on a drunken-driving charge two decades ago.

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