McCain aides: 'Palin didn't know Africa was a continent'

Sarah Palin did not know Africa was a continent, McCain aides have allegedly claimed. New slurs against John McCain's former running mate emerged this week as the tattered Republican party nosedived into civil war and the divide between McCain and Palin was further exposed. A Fox News anchor claimed McCain aides told him of Mrs Palin's ignorance on Africa - and that she did not know what countries were in North America. Aides also allegedly claimed Mrs Palin spent "thousands more" than the $150,000 reported on clothes during the campaign - to the shock of the donor who paid her bill - and that she answered the door to McCain aides in her hotel room in just a towel. Other reports claim that Mrs Palin spent thousands more on a shopping spree at high-end department stores than the campaign had expected. Newsweek claimed that though the McCain camp publicly supported the Alaska governor, in private aides were fuming over the amount of money she spent on clothes. Mrs Palin was reportedly told to buy herself three new suits and hire a stylist in the run-up to the Republican National Convention. Instead, one angry aide claimed, she embarked on a "Wasilla hillbillies looting Neiman Marcus from coast to coast" shopping spree - to the shock of the wealthy donor footing the bill. Newsweek also claimed Palin used low-level staffers to buy some of the clothes on their credit cards. The McCain campaign found out last week when the aides sought reimbursement. One aide estimated that she spent "tens of thousands" more than the reported $150,000, and that $20,000 to $40,000 went to buy clothes for her husband. Some articles of clothing have apparently been lost. An aide said the truth will eventually come out when the Republican Party audits its books. It is also alleged that Mrs Palin and Mr McCain barely spoke in the final weeks of the campaign, with Mr McCain preferring to consult with older, more experienced political friends. Aides claimed the details of her clothes spending were kept from Mr McCain for fear he would be offended by it. Newsweek also reported Mrs Palin asked to speak along with Mr McCain at his Arizona concession speech Tuesday night, but campaign strategist Steve Schmidt vetoed the request. Meanwhile Mrs Palin has refused to dampen speculation that she will run for president in 2012. Mrs Palin, who has strong support on the conservative Right, dropped a strong hint that she intends to remain prominent in national politics by saying she would campaign for energy security and "reach out to the Barack Obama and the new administration". The Alaska governor, 44, symbolizes one side of the searing divide in the Republican ranks. She proved a huge hit with small-town America and the religious Right - and would easily attract big money to stand against Barack Obama in four years. But she cost support among floating and urban voters by appearing dogmatic and ignorant about foreign affairs. Exit polls showed a significant number of voters saw her as a turn-off. "If I cost John McCain even one vote, I am sorry about that," she told CNN. Republicans modernizers want a candidate with appeal to voters beyond its core supporters. "She clearly has a future in national politics," said Republican strategist Scott Reed. "She has to work to rebuild the parts of her image that became a caricature. But she's extremely popular with the grassroots." "I don't know what the heck's going to happen in 2012," she said yesterday. "I just want to get back to work for the people of Alaska." Speaking as she flew to her home state where she is governor, Mrs Palin kept the door firmly open. "Right now I just cannot imagine running for office in 2012," she said, "I say that, of course, on the heels of an outcome I did not anticipate and did not ask for." On returning home she was greeted by cheering supporters at the airport chanting: "2012! 2012! 2012!" Rivals for the 2012 campaign will include former Arkansas governor Mike Huckabee, former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney and Louisiana governor Bobby Jindal. Republican strategist Tony Fabrizio said Mrs Palin had been damaged by allegations that she abused her position: "She needs to go back home and face all of the stuff that's been raked up."