Palin's answers were 'scripted' before TV debate with Biden: GOP strategist

London, Apr. 28: Leading Republican strategist Steve Schmidt, the brain behind John McCain's presidential campaign, has disclosed that former Alaska Governor Sarah Palin's answers during her TV debate with soon to be US Vice-President Joe Biden were almost rehearsed.

Pitted against the formidable Biden and with time running short, Palin's preparations for the debate were so poor that the campaign was facing a "crisis" according to Schmidt, and according to him, to avert a complete debacle, Palin was thoroughly tutored.

"These are the questions. Here's what he's going to say. Here's what your most effective response is. That we want to be able to come out of this debate saying you were on offence. If you hear 'A', you go ahead and say 'B', and so to that degree it was somewhat scripted," Schmidt told Sky News.

Incidentally, Schmidt himself had recommended Palin to McCain. They later fell out with Palin accusing McCain's team of being "too controlling" in her book 'Going Rogue".

Schmidt refused to respond to Palin's accusations directly, saying "I don't have anything more to add to it on a personal level other than to say that there was a good outcome to that debate.
(ANI)

BJP withdraws support from Soren Government for 'betrayal'

New Delhi, Apr 28: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Wednesday withdrew its support for Shibu Soren's Government in Jharkhand for voting against the National Democratic Alliance (NDA)'s cut motion.

The BJP took a final call on ties with Jharkhand Chief Minister Shibu Soren's Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) at its Parliamentary Board meeting held here today.

"We are withdrawing support from the government in Jharkhand. Deputy Chief Minister Raghuvar Das would be reaching Ranchi today and handing over the withdrawal letter to the Governor," said BJP General Secretary Anant Kumar after the Parliamentary Board meeting.

"All BJP ministers would resign with immediate effect," he added.

The BJP was reportedly upset with Soren for he voted with the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) Government on the cut motion.

Senior BJP leader M Venkaiah Naidu had earlier this morning said the party would take a final call on ties with Soren at the meeting.

"How can one ally claim he voted for the UPA by mistake," said Naidu.

Soren was sworn in as the Chief Minister of Jharkhand on December 30, 2009 for the third time.

He had formed the government with a five-party coalition.

Soren had secured the support of 44 MLAs in the 81-member House after the assembly elections in Jharkhand gave a fractured verdict.

The JMM had 18 seats, BJP had 18 seats, Janata Dal-United (JD-U) had two seats, All Jharkhand Students Union (AJSU) had five seats and Jharkhand Janadhikar Manch (JJM) had one seat in the assembly.

The Congress has 18 seats in the assembly.

(ANI)