The New Nation - Internet Edition

AFP, Juneau

A senior Alaska state senator kept an abuse- of-power investigation of Republican vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin on track Monday, rejecting Republican calls to remove the Democratic overseer of the probe.

The move made it possible that staff of Palin, the Alaska governor, could soon be subpoenaed to testify in the brewing "Troopergate" case, in which Palin is accused of sacking a senior state official for refusing to fire her sister's ex-husband from the state trooper force.

The case could cast a shadow over Palin, whose choice 10 days ago to be Senator John McCain's White House running mate shocked the country but also has fired up his poll numbers, drawing him even with Democrat Barack Obama in the race.

On Monday Alaska Democratic state senator Kim Elton, chairman of the state legislative council, rejected a call by state Republican representative John Coghill to replace the Democrat director of the Troopergate probe.

"The decisions made by the project director, Senator (Hollis) French, have been appropriate, bipartisan, in line with the charge by the council and unchallenged by any of the principals," Elton said.