Vice presidential nominee Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin was a hit in her national debut, Snohomish County Republicans said Wednesday.
Palin’s acceptance speech at the Republican National Convention showcased her personality and laid out the political values she is bringing to the party’s presidential ticket, they said.
“I was incredibly impressed. I think she’s a powerhouse,” said JoyceAnn Damon of Lynnwood, a leader of the Snohomish County Republican Women’s Club.
Since Sen. John McCain named the 44-year-old first-term governor of Alaska as his running mate, she’s received an enormous amount of attention in traditional and online media, with considerable hype in anticipation of her appearance.
In Minnesota, two Snohomish County delegates attending the convention said in phone interviews that Palin delivered beyond what they anticipated.
“Tenfold,” said Jason Bontrager of Snohomish. “She’s a straight shooter. She spoke from the heart. She spoke from experience.
“Everybody was just in awe,” he said, noting Palin received a thunderous ovation when she finished.
Delegate Iris Lilly of Marysville described Palin’s effect on the crowd as “very uniting. She’s tough. She was heartfelt.
“I had never heard her speak before,” Lilly continued. “She says it like it is. She stands for what I believe in.”
Laura Lewis of Stanwood, a vice chairwoman of the Snohomish County Democratic Party, agreed that Palin delivered the words of the speech well, though she said it was a bit hard listening to her.
“She has a very annoying voice,” she said.
Lewis said Palin “did what she was supposed to do. She inspired the base. She represented herself well.”
Lewis said Palin and other speakers at the convention Wednesday night distorted Democratic candidate Sen. Barack Obama’s plans for taxing the richest 1 percent of the nation in order to help ease the tax burden on the majority. She said Palin ignored the tax-and-spend policies of Republicans when that party held the majority in Congress.
For Damon, there was nothing disturbing about what Palin said or how she said it. At times, Damon said she found herself on the verge of applauding.
“I was really quite enjoying it. She came across so doggone real,” she said, especially the humorous jabs at Obama and his running mate Joe Biden. “I think she pretty much blew their socks off.”
Reporter Jerry Cornfield: 360-352-8623 or jcornfield@heraldnet.com.
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