Sep 3, 2008 5:51 pm US/Central
Illinois Politicians On What They Want From Palin
CHICAGO (CBS) ―
Tonight is a big night for Republicans as Sarah Palin steps into the convention spotlight to deliver her acceptance speech as candidate for vice-president.
Senator John McCain arrived in St. Paul, Minnesota earlier today. He greeted his wife and daughter – and Palin and her family.
McCain chatted with Palin's pregnant teenage daughter Bristol and her husband- to-be Levi Johnston.
CBS 2 political editor Mike Flannery reports that this may be the most anticipated speech by a VP nominee ever. Palin is expected to talk about her record as governor tonight among other things.
"The phone in the DuPage County Republican headquarters has been ringing off the hook," said U.S. Rep. Peter Roskam.
Even as Wheaton's congressman Peter Roskam was telling the Illinois delegation today about the response to Sarah Palin he's hearing back home, the vice-presidential candidate herself was checking out the convention hall stage where she will speak this evening.
There was no shortage of Illinois advice for what she should say.
"I hope to hear from her tonight how she has been a reformer, tell us what she's done, why she is prepared to be vice-president of the United States," said Demetra Demonte, Illinois GOP.
"I want to hear about her, her life, what she has accomplished, what she's done – which I think is formidable - hear about it in her own voice," said Christine Dudley, Illinois GOP.
"God bless her and God bless her efforts on our behalf," said U.S. Senate candidate Steve Sauerberg. "I cannot imagine picking a better choice, from my perspective, for vice-presidential candidate. My thoughts are with her and her family."
Originally Roman Catholic, Palin's family became Fundamentalist Christian when she was a young girl. Some left-wing bloggers argue that her previous support for teaching Bible-based creationism side-by-side with scientifically supported evolution makes her "kooky."
"Anyone that has an 80 percent favorable rating in a state, I don't think means that they're considered a kook. They do their job," said Ill. Sen. Dave Syverson (R-Rockford). "And I think she understands that. We've had a lot of candidates that have had personal spiritual beliefs."
"The vice-president of the United States can have her own opinions about what's being taught in the public schools," said former Illinois Governor Jim Thompson.
A half dozen Republican women in St. Paul held a news conference earlier today – the main purpose of it was to bash and blame the news media for all of the controversy that has surrounded the Palin announcement. Carly Fiorina, chairman of the RNC victory 2008 campaign for John McCain, said the media has done a lousy job with this situation.
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