'I'm proud of Barack Obama,' says Palin
Former Republican US vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin said she is optimistic about Barack Obama's presidency and even prays for the President-elect and his family.
Burying the pre-poll rancour, former Republican US vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin on Friday said she is optimistic about Barack Obama's presidency and even prays for the President-elect and his family.
"I'm proud of Barack Obama. I pray for him, his family, the new administration. I look forward to the good things that are in store for this nation," Palin, the Governor of the oil-rich state of Alaska said while appearing on on CNN's "Larry King Live".
During the feisty presidential campaign, Palin had expressed concerns about Obama's lack of executive experience and characterised him as "palling around with terrorists."
Asked if she feared about the fate of the United States under Obama's presidency, the 44-year-old former beauty queen said: "I don't have fear, I have optimism."
"Barack Obama is going to surround himself with those who do have executive experience. There was nothing mean- spirited -- there was no negative campaigning when I called Barack Obama out on his associations..."
"I don't think that there is anything wrong with calling someone out on their associations, their record, their plans. I expect to be called out -- and so did John McCain -- on his associations and our record," she said.
Asked whether she still harboured a wish to be US President, Palin said: "I'm not going to close any doors that perhaps would be in front of me and would allow me to put to good use executive experience and a world view that I think is good for our nation.