ST. PAUL, Minn. - Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin and national Republicans made offense their best defense last night, turning a week's worth of questions about the vice presidential nominee's experience and "reform" image against their Democratic rivals.
Largely unknown outside of Alaska a week ago, Palin was the unquestioned star in the Xcel Energy Center on the third night of the hurricane-shortened Republican National Convention.
Delegates showered her with a prolonged standing ovation - a stark contrast to the media hazing she faced over the past several days, as a stream of personal and political revelations raised questions about how thoroughly McCain had vetted her.
The first female member of a GOP presidential ticket, who styles herself "a hockey mom," showed she could deliver a body check.
Palin painted herself as a victim of hostile reporters and a scornful Washington establishment. "Here's a little news flash for all those reporters and commentators," she said in remarks prepared for delivery, skewering a favorite conservative target. "I'm not going to Washington to seek their good opinion. I'm going to Washington to serve the people of this country."
She also defended her relative lack of political experience - mayor of a small town, then less than two years as Alaska governor - by swiping at Democratic nominee Barack Obama and one of his first jobs after college.
"I guess a small-town mayor is sort of like a 'community organizer,' " she said, "except that you have actual responsibilities."
Throughout the night, the crowd cheered Palin's resume and mocked Obama and running mate Joe Biden's lack of executive experience, with chants of "Ze-ro! Ze-ro!"
Palin's was the rockiest political introduction to a national audience since Dan Quayle's surprise selection as George H.W. Bush's running mate 20 years ago - a rough ride from which Quayle's reputation never recovered.
Clearly frustrated, McCain's campaign refused to discuss the vetting process any further yesterday. A group of leading Republican women accused the news media of unfair and sexist reporting during a news conference.
"So many women around this country appreciate the way that Sarah Palin brings a broad and very diverse footing and foundation of experience to play," said Rep. Marsha Blackburn of Tennessee, citing her roles as a wife, mother, businesswoman and community volunteer. "Every woman in this room knows that if you can handle being a room mother ... a PTA chairman, a Girl Scout cookie mom, there are a lot of things you have the ability, the organizational skills to handle."
