ST. PAUL, Minn. – Maryland Republicans were still buzzing Thursday morning over Sarah Palin’s convention speech from the previous night, when the Alaska governor energized a packed stadium in accepting her party’s vice-presidential nomination. “I’m so proud I can’t see straight,” said Delegate Larry Helminiak, as he refilled a cup of coffee in the Embassy Suites hotel.
Maryland’s 71-member delegation, gathered here for the Republican National Convention, has met for breakfast each day this week, and most mornings have been devoid of intense political conversation. However, on Thursday the group excitedly discussed Palin’s strengths and repeated their favorite lines from her speech.
“I get really infuriated when people say things like, ‘Can she successfully be both a vice president and a mother?’ ” said Alternate Delegate Crystal Zorbaugh, a single working mom. “Just look at how incredibly well she handled last night.”
Delegation Chairman Don Murphy offered the group a weighty prediction about Palin’s career as the breakfast adjourned.
“Speaking for those of us who were working for John McCain in the primary, I just want to say one thing. I sure am glad that Sarah Palin was not running in this primary, because she was fantastic,” said Murphy. “That woman is going to be the president of the United States one day. You mark my words.”
–By Capital News Service’s Jenn Bogdan