US Republican presidential candidate John McCain, whosepresumptive running mate disclosed that her unmarried 17-year-olddaughter is pregnant, has opposed proposals to spend federal moneyon teen-pregnancy prevention programs and voted to require poorteenage mothers to stay in school or lose their welfarebenefits.

Alaska Governor Sarah Palin's announcement yesterday about herdaughter Bristol was aimed at rebutting Internet rumors thatPalin's youngest son, born in April, was actually her daughter's.Palin said her daughter intends to raise her child and marry thebaby's father, identified in news reports as Levi Johnston, 18, ofWasilla, a high school hockey player whom Bristol has dated forabout one year. The baby is due in late December.

McCain's record on issues surrounding teen pregnancy andcontraceptives during his more than two decades in the Senateindicate that he and Palin have similar views. Until yesterday,when the subject surfaced in a deeply personal manner, teenpregnancy and sex education were not issues in the nationalpolitical campaign.

Palin herself said she opposes funding sexual-education programsin Alaska. She has supported abstinence programs in schools.

"The explicit sex-ed programs will not find my support," shewrote in a 2006 questionnaire distributed among gubernatorialcandidates.