(CNSNews.com) - Sen. John McCain “absolutely” knew that Gov. Sarah Palin’s 17-year-old daughter was pregnant before he announced Palin as his running mate, McCain adviser Carly Fiorina told Fox News on Monday.
 
Fiorina spoke shortly after the McCain campaign issued a two-paragraph statement from Sarah and Todd Palin, which follows:
 
"We have been blessed with five wonderful children who we love with all our heart and mean everything to us. Our beautiful daughter Bristol came to us with news that as parents we knew would make her grow up faster than we had ever planned. We're proud of Bristol's decision to have her baby and even prouder to become grandparents. As Bristol faces the responsibilities of adulthood, she knows she has our unconditional love and support.
 
"Bristol and the young man she will marry are going to realize very quickly the difficulties of raising a child, which is why they will have the love and support of our entire family. We ask the media to respect our daughter and Levi's privacy as has always been the tradition of children of candidates."
 
The Palins apparently felt compelled to issue the statement on Monday after liberal blogs claimed that Gov. Sarah Palin had faked her own recent pregnancy to cover for her daughter Bristol, who -- the blogs said -- was the real mother of Trig Palin.
 
McCain aides were quoted as calling the liberal conjecture “despicable.”