Palin's brother campaigns in Gardnerville

Chuck Heath Jr., the older brother of Republican vice-presidential candidate Sarah Palin, remembers how his now-famous sister would tag along with him and his friends when they were growing up together in Wasilla, Alaska.

"She would try to get into our basketball and baseball games," Heath said, "always trying to keep up with the boys, just like she's doing now."

Heath was at the Douglas County Republican headquarters in Gardnerville on Thursday to help local organizers make campaign calls on behalf of his sister and presidential candidate John McCain.

"People answered and thought it was a prank call," he said. "They asked, 'Why would you be here?'"

Heath said he assured voters that he really was Palin's brother and explained to them how important Nevada is in the election.

"Nevada is a very critical state," he said.

People of all ages came to the headquarters in the Haas Center to visit with Heath.

"I think it's awesome that he's here," said 16-year-old Douglas High School junior Roxanne Stearns. "I can't vote, but I'm helping make phone calls. I like that John McCain picked a woman for vice president, a strong woman."

Gardnerville resident David Matlean, 47, explained how Palin had ignited the Republican base.

"I am the base," he said. "And you see all these people liking Sarah Palin so much because she's smart and she's beautiful, but she's also just like them."

Heath recalled sharing a bedroom with his three sisters in the small house they grew up in.

"We didn't have a lot of money," he said. "We hunted and fished for our food."

Heath said there was always something special about Palin.

"Even when she was young, she'd get this look in her eyes and you knew she was going do something," he said. "Later, especially in sports, she had this absolute determination, making sure she would never let anyone down, and that carried over into her political career."

Heath had a pithy response for critics who say Palin is not ready to be commander in chief.

"They didn't grow up with her. If they would have, there would be no doubt at all," he said. "She is independent, confident, stubborn, super-smart and tough as nails."

Heath said similar criticisms were leveled against her when she ran for governor of Alaska.

"Two months after she was elected, her poll numbers went through the roof, numbers that had never been seen before," he said. "It was all about standing up to big oil. She went toe to toe with major corporations without batting an eye. She faced down her own party when there were fishy things going on.

"It was never about her. It was always about doing what's right for the people. She's always been driven to serve the people that put her into office."