John McCain's running mate Sarah Palin said Monday that her 17-year-old unmarried daughter is five months pregnant, an announcement aimed at rebutting Internet rumors that Palin's youngest son, born in April, was actually her daughter's.

A statement released by the campaign said that Bristol Palin will keep her baby and marry the child's father. Bristol Palin is five months pregnant, and the baby is due in late December.

''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,'' Sarah and Todd Palin said in the brief statement.

''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,'' they added.

The news spread quickly through the convention in Minneapolis, where delegates were stunned.

''What? This is for real?'' said State Rep. Ellyn Bogdanoff, a Fort Lauderdale Republican.

But the mother of three children, including a 16-year-old daughter, quickly gathered her thoughts.

''You can be mother of the year, and your kids still may not make the best decisions,'' she said. ``I don't know that anyone should judge her differently.''

Others theorized that the news would do little to hurt the ticket.

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