Bristol's boyfriend unveiled
2008-09-04 09:58
St Paul - Just days ago Levi Johnston was just another school ice hockey player from Alaska. On Wednesday, he was shaking hands with the would-be next US president in the glare of the world's press.
Next to him, looking just as startled, his pregnant girlfriend Bristol Palin, 17, squeezed his hand as they made their first public appearance together since news of the impending birth roiled the Republican White House campaign.
Johnston, 18, was unknowingly rocketed into the 2008 race when John McCain picked Bristol's mother, Sarah Palin, on Friday to be his vice presidential candidate.
The news that Bristol was five months pregnant emerged just days later and the Palin family hastily issued a statement saying the couple were keeping the baby and planned to marry.
While many core conservatives have applauded the family for standing by Bristol, the scandal has fuelled criticism that McCain made a hasty, reckless choice in picking Palin, a first time governor from Alaska, as his VP.
McCain arrived in Minnesota on Wednesday just hours before Palin was to address the Republican party convention, to be greeted at the airport by his entire family, as well as Palin and her five children - and Johnston.
There were hugs all round, but in a carefully choreographed show of unity, McCain reserved his warmest welcome for Bristol and Johnston, who appeared for the first time in public on the campaign trail.
McCain twice hugged Bristol, who was wearing a large jacket over her fitted skirt, pumped the curly-haired Levi's hand, and embraced them as a couple.
Palin and her family have so far given no press interviews since her surprise pick last week.
But locals in their hometown of Wasilla, population around 8 500, say Levi and Bristol have been dating for just over a year.
"He was a good kid to be around, with lots of friends. He was well-liked," Wasilla Warriors' ice hockey coach Bill Sturdevant told the New York Daily News.
And his friend, Blake Weiland, told the paper Johnston was looking forward to being a dad. "I know him very well, though, and I know he'll be a great father and husband."
In February 2007, Johnston apparently helped save one of their friends buried in an avalanche while they were hiking, Weiland said.
"Levi was right there to help me find one of my good friends, and I thank God every day that he was there," Weiland said.
- AFP