Alaska delegates cheer Palin from convention floor
Published Thursday, September 4, 2008
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Stumble It!FAIRBANKS — Sarah Palin has found her next fight.
The Alaska governor, noted for putting everything she’s got behind a cause she believes in, delivered as promised in a 45-minute speech accepting the vice-presidential nomination at the Republican National Convention on Wednesday night.
Alaska delegates at the St. Paul, Minn., convention said she demonstrated toughness, smarts and a willingness to take on the opposition — and won hearts as a genuine, every-day American woman with family values.
Palin spoke before an estimated crowd of 45,000 at the Republican National Convention in St. Paul, Minn., as millions of Americans tuned in on TV. The speech marked her first solo address after Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., added her to the Republican presidential ticket Friday, and by the accounts of those there, she shone.
“What a great day for Alaskans!” delegate Nick Stepovich of Fairbanks said from the convention center floor after Palin’s speech. “She’s our girl.”
Palin opened with an introduction of her family and personal values, speaking about her oldest son, Track, who is deploying to Iraq, and baby Trig, who was born with Down syndrome. She segued into passionate stumps for running mate McCain as the kind of commander in chief she wants as a mother of a soldier.
She detailed actions taken as governor that support her reputation as a political establishment outside who roots out corruption and stands up for the working class.
At the same, she countered an onslaught of recent media attention focused on, among other things, her experience level and 17-year-old daughter Bristol’s pregnancy. She also fired bold shots at opponent Barack Obama and critics who claim her small-town experience isn’t going to cut it on a national level.
“I guess a small-town mayor is sort of like a community organizer — except that you have actual responsibilities,” she said, referencing Obama’s professional start.
The response from the crowd was overwhelmingly positive, and people seemed to feel that Palin delivered as promised, Stepovich said.
“Sometimes we underestimate our own people, because we know them and we know the human side of their life,” Alaska delegate Ralph Seekins said. “Tonight, I think what we saw was people from across the nation saying, hey, there is a lot more to this woman than we thought there was. Not only is she good looking, she’s tough, she’s smart, she can deliver — and we know already she’s a threat to the other side.”
He said the energy following Palin’s speech was something that couldn’t come across on TV.
“On that floor tonight, you could feel the vibration,” he said. “It was an electric feeling.”
She came across sharp and personable, and references to her all-American life and hometown really connected not only with delegates, but also people working the convention, Stepovich noted.
“It seemed like they knew her,” he said. “They’re learning what we’ve learned. Sarah Palin is personable, her empathy shows. We talk to her and we feel like we know her. That comes from honesty.”
He predicted that initial approval ratings will show Palin hitting levels on par with her popularity in Alaska.
In Fairbanks, University of Alaska Fairbanks political science professor Jerry McBeath said Palin’s speech was good, but fell short of excellent. The governor was “exceptionally confident and poised,” and held up remarkably well under a new level of pressure.
“It was a high-stakes speech,” he assessed. “She did a very good job.”
Palin talked about her herself, indirectly mentioned that all families have problems, and offered examples of her executive experience as governor. She also stumped for McCain while firing steady hits at their opponent, Barack Obama. She also established her role in the campaign and, possibly, as vice-president, he said.
“She is going to be the pit bull in this campaign, the attack dog against Obama,” McBeath siad, referring to Palin’s own witticism that lipstick is the only difference between a hockey mom and pit bull.
That’s in keeping with the traditional vice-presidential campaign role, the professor added.
She covered all the bases, speaking on taxation and energy, foreign policy and the war on terrorism — yet never mentioned social conservative values. That’s because she didn’t have to, McBeath pointed out.
“The images were all right there,” he said.
He was particularly touched by TV close-ups of Cindy McCain cradling the Palins’ youngest, baby Trig, before the governor took the stage.
“That was especially endearing,” McBeath said.
Seekins said the audience on the convention center floor absolutely melted in response to Palin’s family. Several women near him started crying when Cindy McCain picked up baby Trig.
McCain himself offered another jolt, walking on-stage unexpectedly to congratulate Palin on her speech.
“Don’t you think we made the right choice for the next vice president of the United States,” McCain asked, joining Palin, her husband Todd, their five children and Bristol’s boyfriend onstage. “And what a beautiful family.”
“He didn’t have to do that,” McBeath commented. The presidential contender’s presence showed genuine support for his running mate, who has faced a good deal of pressure from the media in the past few days.
“That helped seal the unity of the team,” McBeath said.
Palin will have to be careful in contrasting McCain and Obama, McBeath cautioned. She successfully established her credentials as a Washington outsider, yet is running on the incumbent party’s ticket. And, he said, she’ll have to tone down the attacks before some audiences as she hits the campaign trail in the coming weeks.
The acceptance speech and, to come, the vice-presidential candidates’ debate, will be the critical appearances for Palin, he said.
Seekins, at the convention, said the acceptance speech was powerful.
“It was a moment in history that a lot of people will remember for years,” he said. “As an Alaskan it was a glorious evening, and as an American it was something I will never forget.”
Community Discussion
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Isn't it curious that the same Fairbanks- area voters who overwhelmingly rejected Ralph Seekins also- in the same election- overwhelmingly voted for Sarah Palin?
Sarah was, and is, part of the new paradigm for the Republican party. Good old boys who betrayed party principles- like Seekins- should really not have any standing in the party.
How sad that Ruedrich was also at the convention. Sarah looks even smarter by trying to have him replaced for his past highly unethical behavior.
Not sad that Randy Ruedrich was there. What a humbling experience it must have been, sitting there hearing over and over how she had him run of his job for ethical violations, hearing her extolled as a fighter of corrupt politcians and he is the one. How could he have been punished more brutally.
Yup . . . whenever folks feel in danger, they throw out all kinds of baseless slander. I'll bet, CEO, that you have never met Ralph except when you sat in front of a television tube. You need to get back to your Democrat letter writing group as soon as possible.
It was finally good to hear a woman not screaming into the microphone to get her point across. Hilary could take some lessons from this Alaskan gal. Reforming a party from the inside, maybe the Democrats need to take a look at reforming their own party. Seems to me they have become the party of millionaires who think it is their birth right to bestow upon the "peasants" of this country what they believe is just the right amount of hand outs to keep them stuck in the lower economic segment of society. Old time Democrats would roll over in their graves if they could see what their party has become.
I was nervous for her at the beginning of her speech--45,000 people in attendance--but she really came out strong, poised, and ready for battle! The one thing I could see from her presence was "BRING IT ON, LIBBYS!!!" Can't wait to see the debate between her and Biden.
Yeah, me neither. Biden will eat her alive.
Anyone care to explain to Darkhorse the meaning of the word, 'slander'? Maybe she meant to write, 'libel'?
Now that we have the basic definitions down, lets further disprove Darkhorse's claim.
Take a trip down memory lane with these two links:
http://www.elections.alaska.gov/06genera...
http://www.seekinsbreakdown.com
I still bet you have never met him CEO - no matter what you wrote on your web sites. Admit it. Am I right?
If you want to get conservative mad, lie to them. If you want to get a liberal mad, tell them facts. CEO won't admit to anything, darkhorse. Keep fighting the good fight.
They are now saying 37 million Americans heard her speech. Check national news, calling her speech the voice of the first woman president. In the polls 39% are saying she is more qualified than Obama to be president. I think this is just the beginning. History is being made and we are seeing the beginning of a political change in this country. I guess she is truly becoming the "Northern Star." It will be interesting to see the war that will be waged against her. Little do they know how tough Alaskan woman are.
Has anyone noticed all the comments from people out of State and supporting Obama and name calling Palin have gone away today. The speech is over and so are those nut cases from the lower 48. I guess they are more worried about the fact she is being called the voice of the first woman president and spending their time on national papers. At least you can pull up the newsminer faster.
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