Palin

I caught a few headlines here and there earlier today, suggesting that tonight could be a "make or break" moment for Gov. Sarah Palin.

I don't know if that was really the case. A flub wouldn't be good. Neither would a flat and boring speech. But...deadly? Very little can kill off a political effort that has talent, energy, and money behind it.

Anyway, her speech wasn't a flub. I kinda doubt the Xcel Center crowd would've allowed it to be. The cheering upon her introduction and entrance was deafening. It was almost physically forceful.

(NOTE - it was even more so after McCain's surprise entrance following Palin's speech.)

Palin had already been out on stage earlier today, getting used to the setting. I hope somebody thought to prepare her for the noise, too. And for the flash bulbs. They were going on and on and on like strobe lights.

If they didn't, she still handled it. She introduced her family (no mention of the daughter's pregnancy). She lauded John McCain. She talked small-town hard work and values, took shots at the Obama/Biden ticket, and had a half-dozen or so good applause lines (not nearly as many as Rudy Giuliani, but whaddayagonna do? It's Rudy).

I'd have liked to hear some version of the "18 million cracks in the glass ceiling" line again. Maybe another kudos to Clinton and Ferraro, maybe making some contrast between their experience and Obama's.

But anyway. It was a good speech. Not a great speech. But a pressure speech, and she handled it. So. Did she "make or break?" Prediction: according to the pundits, she did both.

Here's the text.