Published: September 04, 2008 10:42 pm         

W.Va. delegates say Palin speech energized convention

Call it “Palin Power” or “Palin Energy,” but finally the Republican National Convention had electricity in the air, thanks to vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin.

“She definitely energized the place,” former state Sen. Russ Weeks of Beckley said.

Weeks is the Republican candidate for governor in West Virginia.

“If anyone had any doubts about her abilities, she put them all to rest Wednesday night,” Weeks said.

“There is only one man in this election who has ever really fought for you,” Palin told a roaring, packed audience at the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul, Minn.

Palin was making reference to Republican nominee John McCain and an implicit swipe at his challenger, Democrat Barack Obama.

Palin’s speech charged up a convention that desperately needed it after Hurricane Gustav seemed to take away any energy the convention had on its beginning days.

“People jumped at every word she said,” according to Weeks.

Weeks said Palin’s description of herself as a hockey mom and pit bull was his favor part of the speech.

“She said the only difference between a hockey mom and a pit bull is the lipstick,” he said. “I think her spunky pit bull label will stick.”

Gary Lilly, another McCain delegate from Fayette County, called Palin’s speech “fantastic,” but said it was former presidential contenders Rudy Giuliani, Mike Huckabee and Mitt Romney that set it all up.

“They got it wound up and she finished it off perfectly,” Lilly said.

Giuliani said Obama doesn’t have any executive experience.

“She’s already had more executive experience than the entire Democratic ticket combined,” Giuliani said.

Palin delivered criticism of Obama and his running mate, Sen. Joe Biden, and praised McCain.

Palin said she had “a little news flash for those reporters and commentators” who have doubted her experience.

“I’m not going to Washington to seek their good opinion,” she said. “I’m going to Washington to serve the people of this great country.”

The crowd erupted, according to Weeks.

“She nailed it,” Weeks said. “She made a reputation as a reform style governor in Alaska and that is exactly what I’m trying to do in West Virginia.”

Weeks says Palin has delivered on change in Alaska.

“She stood up to the special interest groups, the lobbyists and the good old boy networks,” he said. “That’s what I want to do as governor of West Virginia.”

Weeks said he is hoping to get a boost from the McCain-Palin ticket in his race against incumbent Democrat Joe Manchin.

“Both McCain and Palin are making plans for visits to West Virginia,” he said. “I plan to be right by their sides delivering our message of change.”

Weeks said West Virginia has a lot in common with Alaska.

“We’re both energy states and her experiences in Alaska can only help West Virginia as well,” he said. “She really understands and knows how to speak to small town people.”

Palin has been described as an asset to the GOP ticket because of her energy experience, but what people are really talking about is her experience in dealing with oil and natural gas issues. She favors more drilling for both fuel sources.

“The fact that drilling won't solve every problem is no excuse to do nothing at all,” she said during her speech. “Starting in January, in a McCain-Palin administration, we’re going to lay more pipelines, build more nuclear plants, create jobs with clean coal and move forward on solar, wind, geothermal and other alternative sources.”

Weeks believes this is one of the most important presidential elections in recent memory.

“With the condition of the world and the energy situation, this election will be vital to the future of our country,” he said. “This election offers us a chance to make a change in both Washington and West Virginia.”

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