Palin speaks out over family's media coverage

Defeated Republican vice-presidential candidate Sarah Palin says her future son-in-law is not a high school dropout as the press is reporting.

The Alaska Governor also issued a statement about the birth of her first grandchild.

Mrs Palin said 18-year-old Levi Johnston is enrolled in high school through a correspondence programme. She said some media outlets also are erroneously reporting that her 18-year-old daughter, Bristol, is a high school dropout.

The governor said her daughter is enrolled in regular high school and has taken correspondence courses. It had been reported that Mr Johnston dropped out of high school to work on the North Slope oil fields.

Bristol Palin and Mr Johnston are the parents of Sarah Palin’s first grandchild, Tripp Easton Mitchell

Johnston, who was born on Saturday.

Mrs Palin’s office initially would not comment on the birth of the couple’s baby, but finally the governor broke the silence.

“We are over the moon with the arrival of this healthy, beautiful baby,” Mrs Palin said in a statement.

“The road ahead for this young couple will not be easy, but nothing worthwhile is ever easy. Bristol and Levi are committed to accomplish what millions of other young parents have accomplished, to provide a loving and secure environment for their child.”

In the same statement, Bristol Palin said she “obviously discourages” teen pregnancy and understands previous plans have been forever changed.

“Teenagers need to prevent pregnancy to begin with – this isn’t ideal,” the teenager said. “But I’m fortunate to have a supportive family which is dealing with this together. Tripp is so perfectly precious; we love him with all our hearts. I can’t imagine life without him now.”

Mr Johnston has said he and Bristol plan to marry.