I was born in Belfast, Maine but grew up in Palmer, Alaska, the town neighboring Wasilla, Sarah Palin’s hometown. Our towns were rabid rivals in basketball and other sports. I never met the Palins because I moved from Alaska a year or two before they arrived there. I was, however, quite well acquainted with the pastor of her childhood church, since my parents were missionaries in a similar church group. Pastor Reilly’s wife and my older sister were best friends in Palmer High School, where I also graduated.

Sarah Palin’s addition to the presidential campaign re-ignited my smoldering hopes for this campaign, because I know she was taught genuine, old fashioned, (but what should also be contemporary) high spiritual and moral values. Our country sorely needs these values re-emphasized and restated. I am now comfortable in committing to vote for McCain-Palin, because their courage, values, intelligence and experience will be a step back toward government of, by and for real people, and a step away from government by slick lawyers, the rich and the self-serving influence peddlers.

Paul Wendell Davis

Exeter