Palin 'did not know Africa was a continent'
Sarah Palin returns to Alaska amid fresh accusations of her unsuitability for the White House
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Thursday, 06, Nov 2008 07:57
A day after Barack Obama won the US presidential elections, Sarah Palin has returned to Alaska amid fresh allegations of her unsuitability for the White House.
Media reports in the United States have claimed Mrs Palin was unaware that Africa was a continent, not a country as she believed, and illegitimately spent thousands of dollars on clothes.
The Republican party has already admitted that $150,000 was spent on the wardrobe John McCain's running-mate.
According to Newsweek, Mrs Palin, the governor of Alaska, was instructed to buy three suits and hire a stylist before the party's convention.
But the 44-year-old reportedly defied orders to go on a spending spree in Saks Fifth Avenue and Neiman Marcus.
In a separate report on Fox News it was claimed Mrs Palin had confided in Mr McCain's aides that she was unsure whether South Africa was a region in a country called Africa and did not know what countries made up the North American Free Trade Agreement.
The US network also claimed that Mrs Palin almost reduced aides to tears by throwing tantrums after viewing her daily press clippings.
Mrs Palin was a shock choice as Mr McCain's pick for vice president earlier this year. Although her selection and speech at the Republican convention electrified the party, her national appeal plummeted, with observers ultimately blaming her for Mr Obama's victory.
Speaking to CNN before flying back to Alaska Mrs Palin said: "If I cost John McCain even one vote, I am sorry because he is, I believe, the American hero."
Upon arrival in subzero temperatures in her home state, the governor was greeted with chants of "2012, 2012" from supporters.
"We'll see what happens then," was Mrs Palin's reply to claims she will run for the party's presidential nomination in four years.
As she prepared to return to her day job and working with president-elect Mr Obama to expand Alaska's oil and gas reserves Mrs Palin criticised the national media in the US, who she said had erroneously claimed she had "gone rogue" during Mr McCain's campaign.
"We had a great relationship," she told journalists. "I love him."