ST. PAUL – A “tough but tender” speech by vice-presidential nominee Sarah Palin was a big hit with the New Mexico delegation in St. Paul Wednesday night.

 

 

In what many considered a make-or-break speech for her wildcard nomination, the Alaska governor and former mayor of tiny Wasilla, addressed a huge, partisan crowd at the Republican National Convention.

 

“She’s fabulous. She fulfilled all of my expectations tonight,” said New Mexico delegate Pam Wolfe of Las Cruces, who called her daughter in Wasilla as the speech began to make sure she was watching. “My daughter lives in Wasilla, and she knows Sarah Palin. She’s friendly at the grocery store, she’s friendly at the gas station. She’s the real deal.”

 

Delegate Barbara Damron of Santa Fe echoed the sentiment during an interview on the convention floor seconds after the speech.

 

“She’s a strong woman. She didn’t give in to all of those things you’d expect. She’s ready to go head on.”

 

Damron was referring to the media firestorm raging all week around the revelation that Palin’s 17-year old daughter, Bristol Palin, is pregnant with her boyfriend’s child.

 

Questions about whether McCain knew about the situation — and whether it would or should matter to voters — threatened to overshadow the historic news of Palin’s nomination.

 

Others have also asked whether Palin has the experience and toughness needed to be second-in-command.

 

But New Mexico Republicans felt Palin’s strong performance at the convention put the talk back on her qualifications, not on her domestic drama.

 

“I thought it was spectacular. She is the face of the new Republican Party,” said delegate Ceil Levatino of Las Cruces.

 

Palin cracked the crowd up with jokes and took a number of sarcastic jabs at Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama, including belittling his past job as a community organizer.

 

The Alaska governor earned the biggest applause of the night when she told the crowd,” There is only one man in this election who has ever really fought for you.”

 

But the self-confessed “hockey mom” got the biggest laugh when she told this joke: “What’s the difference between a hockey mom and a pit bull? Lipstick.”

 

Palin’s perfect comic timing and ability to seamlessly deviate from an otherwise serious speech charmed U.S. Rep. Heather Wilson, an Albuquerque Republican.

 

“I think that mixture of toughness and tenderness was just right,” said Wilson later at her Minneapolis hotel. “I think she rocks.”

 

In an echo of Obama’s nomination acceptance speech in Denver, Palin brought out her young family at the end, including the obviously pregnant Bristol, who held hands with her fiancé.

 

And the hall erupted when the family was joined onstage in a surprise appearance by John McCain himself.

 

Before the speech, New Mexico delegate Nina Martinez of Edgewood praised Palin and lamented the media’s focus on her family situation.

 

“She’s a great working mom, and these family issues she’s having just shows she’s a real person,” Martinez said.

 

McCain will accept the Republican Party nomination at the Xcel Center Thursday night.