State penalties upheld by GOP

COLUMBIA, S.C. — The Republican National Committee (RNC) on Friday made its penalties stick against South Carolina, New Hampshire, Florida and Michigan for holding primaries earlier than rules allowed.

RNC credentials-committee member and South Carolina state Rep. Alan Clemmons said those states all lost half their delegates by holding primaries too early. That cut the size of delegations and influence those states have in picking the GOP nominee.

Democrats sanctioned Michigan and Florida for holding primaries too early. But the Democratic National Committee relented Sunday and restored those states' full delegate voting rights. "I think Republicans are more accustomed to following the rules," Clemmons said.

After Iowa's caucuses, New Hampshire and South Carolina have followed with primaries for years.

The RNC is expected to approve a 2012 presidential primary scheduling Monday that formally puts New Hampshire and South Carolina at the top of the primary list.

Edwards to appear for talk on politics

RALEIGH, N.C. — John Edwards has confirmed plans to talk politics a month after admitting to an extramarital affair. But his wife won't be at his side.

A representative for the former Democratic presidential candidate confirmed Friday that he would speak alone at Hofstra University in New York on Sept. 8, school spokesman Stuart Vincent said. It was initially billed as a joint appearance to talk about the 2008 election, but Vincent said Elizabeth Edwards would not attend.

Neither Edwards nor his wife has spoken publicly since his Aug. 8 admission to the affair.

Surprise choice boosts book sales

NEW YORK — Republican presidential candidate John McCain's surprise choice of Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin as his running mate has given a brief, upbeat biography of her the kind of boost that Sen. Joseph Biden's memoir received when he joined the Democratic ticket.

Until Friday, even fewer people nationwide had heard of the book, "Sarah: How a Hockey Mom Turned Alaska's Political Establishment Upside Down," than had heard of the Alaskan governor whose story it tells.

As of Friday evening, the book had jumped into the top 25 on Amazon.com.

Published by Epicenter Press based in Kenmore, Wash., "Sarah" was written by Anchorage author Kaylene Johnson.

Obama's speech seen by 38 million

NEW YORK — Barack Obama's acceptance speech at the Democratic National Convention was seen by more than 38 million people.

Nielsen Media Research said more people watched Obama speak than watched the Olympics opening ceremony in Beijing or the final "American Idol." Obama talked before a live audience of more than 80,000 people in Denver.

Obama's audience might have been higher, since Nielsen didn't have an estimate for how many people watched Obama on PBS or C-SPAN Thursday night.

Seattle Times news services