She also took after Obama for his unguarded remark at a San Francisco fundraiser that small-town Americans, embittered by tough times, seek refuge in guns and religion. "We tend to prefer candidates who don't talk about us one way in Scranton and another way in San Francisco," she said.
She vouched for McCain in a series of laudatory passages. Looking into the TV cameras, she urged Americans: "Take the maverick of the Senate and put him in the White House."
Virtually unknown outside of Alaska a week ago, Palin was the unquestioned star on the third night of the hurricane-shortened convention. Delegates cheered her long and lustily, a stark contrast to the media hazing she has faced amid embarrassing personal and political revelations.
Afterward, she was joined onstage by her family and, unexpectedly, McCain, who was drowned out with affirmative cheers when he hollered, "Don't you think we made the right choice for the next vice president of the United States? And what a beautiful family!"
At the end of the night, after TV's prime time, McCain was formally nominated in a suspense-free roll call vote.
Before Palin took the stage, the McCain campaign was on the offense. Steve Schmidt, McCain's chief strategist, issued a statement saying officials would no longer answer questions about the vice presidential selection process, suggesting reporters were out to "destroy the first female Republican nominee." Hours later, a group of GOP women held a contentious news conference in which they accused the media of unfair and sexist reporting.
"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. "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."
McCain, who has pursued the GOP presidential nomination for nearly a decade, arrived Wednesday to claim his prize. Bounding off his chartered 737, he was greeted by the McCain and Palin families. Also on hand was Levi Johnston, 18, the fiance of Bristol Palin, the governor's 17-year-old pregnant daughter. McCain hugged Bristol, then put his arms around the young couple.
