What should Palin say? Kentucky delegates weigh in

ST. PAUL, Minn. -- Among the Kentuckians interviewed today by PolitickerKY.com, the sentiment was nearly universal that Gov. Sarah Palin (R-Alaska) could connect with undecided voters if she presented her personality and background in her speech this evening.

“I think Governor Palin needs to get up there and be herself,” said Republican Party of Kentucky chair Steve Robertson. “She’s got a great story and a great personality that quite frankly makes me excited.”

“I just hope she gets up there and presents Sarah Palin to the convention,” added Robertson.

Amid continued scrutiny of Palin in the media following the revelation that her teenage daughter was pregnant, one delegate said presenting herself as a the head of a family could benefit the vice-presidential pick.

“She could show more and more how she is a real person,” said Hardin County Judge/Executive Harry Berry, an at-large delegate. “She has not only coped with the challenges that a family faces everyday but also the challenges that a government faces everyday.”

Palin served as a mayor before beginning her term as Governor of Alaska in November of 2006.

Berry added that this executive experience was also an asset for Palin.

“She has executive experience,” said Berry. “Some dispute the level of that, but it’s certainly more experience than others have.”

RNC Committeewoman Gail Russell of Louisville said Palin could particularly connect with Kentucky voters by articulating her background and interests.

“I think the fact that she seems to be just a normal, down-to-earth person that likes fishing and hunting and that she’s a hockey mom, and with her PTA experience – those kind of things are very much the same kind of experiences that Kentucky women would have,” said Russell.

State Rep. Addia Wuchner (R-Burlington) praised Palin’s “conservative values” and said that Palin’s value to the ticket would resonate if she spoke about the influence those “values” had on her time in government.

“Its not just that she has the values but that she’s applied them and articulated them as mayor and governor in her actions,” said Wuchner. “We are going to hear about that tonight from her.”