Asked about how he kept his focus after deciding to compete with cancer, Shanteau said it wasn't difficult.

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When Palin tried to needle Biden, he often smiled it off and kept his focus on McCain or the Bush administration.

CNN: Biden puts McCain, not Palin, in cross hairs

Clinton's plans have raised fears in the Gore camp that he was upstaging the vice president ahead of Gore's nomination, but the president kept the focus of his first speaking appearance here mostly on the race ahead.

CNN: Clinton plugs Gore-Lieberman in convention preview