Troopergate still hounds Palin

Washington, Sep 29 : Demonstrators have gathered to demand that Republican vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin to keep her earlier pledge to cooperate with the corruption probe know as "Troopergate".

But an investigation that once seemed of interest only to Alaskans has taken on much greater significance with her presence on the Republican presidential ticket, the CBS News reports.

At the Alaska Legislative Building in downtown Anchorage on Friday, the hearing room was ready for seven state employees subpoenaed to testify. But no one showed up.

The inquiry into Palin's firing of the head of the state police began with her promising full cooperation.

"I did not abuse my office powers, yeah, and I don't know how to be more blunt and candid and honest about it but to tell you the truth that no pressure was ever put on anybody to fire anybody," Palin said in July.

But now, 10 witnesses associated with the Governor, including her husband Todd, have refused to testify.

Palin's supporters complain the investigation is being used to smear her as she campaigns as John McCain's running mate. They think any findings will be tainted.

Supporters of the inquiry say presidential politics is behind an all-out push to close the investigation down.

While Palin remains popular in Alaska overall, Troopergate and the presidential campaign seem to be taking a toll on her popularity even here.

A month ago when she got the vice presidential nod, her favorable rating among Alaskans was 82 percent. According to a poll released this week, that number dropped to 68 percent.

ANI