Sarah Palin's Never-Heard Victory, Concession Speeches
New book features speeches Palin wasn't allowed to give on election night.
Nov. 4, 2009 — -- One year ago Sarah Palin stood back stage on election night, clutching pages in her hand and preparing to hit the stage once the election results were announced, despite Sen. John McCain's staffers repeatedly telling her she would not be allowed to speak.
A McCain speechwriter had suggested days before that the former vice-presidential candidate prepare two speeches just in case they were needed that night. One was a concession speech that praised Barack Obama and one a victory speech in which she planned to say her husband "will now be the first guy ever to become the 'Second Dude.'"
The contents of those never-heard speeches, and the controversy surrounding Palin's last planned public appearance on election night, are featured in a new book entitled "Sarah From Alaska" by Scott Conroy and Shushannah Walshe.
"I think it's pretty clear she wanted one last chance to be in the spotlight," Conroy told "Good Morning America." "She really wanted to say McCain was a hero and [she was] proud to run a great campaign with him, but she also wanted to get out there and get a few more words in."
ABC News verified the authenticity of the speeches independently.
In the never-delivered concession speech, Palin planned to say that if Obama governs with "the skill and grace we have often seen... we're going to be just fine."
But the prepared concession speech also contained this dig on Obama: "It would be a happier night if elections were a test of valor and merit alone, but that is not for us to question now," Palin would've said.
And she wanted to make a joke.
"I told my husband Todd to look at the upside: Now, at least, he can clear his schedule, and get ready for championship title number five in the Iron Dog snow machine race!"
CLICK HERE to read the two speeches.
Palin was happy with how the speeches were written and thought it would be appropriate for her to take the stage to praise both McCain and Obama and then introduce her running mate. But in the moments after it became clear Obama would be victorious, there was a mad scramble behind the scenes at the Biltmore Hotel in Scottsdale, Ariz.
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