Washington, March 27: It was the 2008 US presidential campaign all over again overnight, with Alaska’s Sarah Palin taking swipes at Democrat Barack Obama with folksy quips and Senator John McCain standing at her side.
But this time Obama is president, Ms Palin is a Republican superstar wannabe – albeit an ex-state governor – and Senator McCain is in a fight for his political life.
Ms Palin, a darling of the far-right Tea Party movement, was in Tucson, Arizona, stumping for Senator McCain, who is in a tight race in the Republican senate primary against conservative former congressman JD Hayworth.
Senator McCain is seeking a fifth term as senator for the southwestern US state.
“We’ve come a long way from the 2008 campaign, but one thing that has not changed is my deep respect and admiration for the McCains and my support of … Senator John McCain,” Ms Palin told a raucous crowd.
Senator McCain plucked Ms Palin from obscurity in 2008 when he asked her to run as his vice presidential candidate.
Ms Palin praised the senator as “a man of principle” who is “leading the loyal opposition in Congress, standing up and speaking out” against the Democratic agenda pushed by Mr Obama, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid.
Senator McCain’s 30 years “fighting for the good, patriotic, hard-working Arizona residents” in the senate “hasn’t always won him friends in the Washington DC elite machine”, Ms Palin said.
It was the first time Ms Palin and Senator McCain had appeared together since 2008.
—Agencies