Williams lauds Palin speech, pushes for ‘maverick’ acceptance by McCain

MINNEAPOLIS - State Senate President David Williams (R-Burkesville) told PolitickerKY.com that the closest thing he's seen to Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin's remarks before the Republican National Convention was when former President Ronald Reagan addressed previous conventions.

"I don't know whether I've ever seen anything like it before," said Williams.

Williams praised the speech's style and content, noting Palin had the "ability to deliver emotional lines."

A delegate to the RNC this year, Williams said the speech should resonate well back home because of its emphasis on certain issues.

"Kentuckians ought to be particularly pleased about what she had to say about energy," said Williams.

Palin's remarks touched on a boilerplate Republican position this election cycle - a push for more domestic oil exploration.

One more night of the Republican convention remains, and while Palin's vice-presidential nomination acceptance speech was one of the most hyped of the quadrennial gathering, Sen. John McCain's own speech is meant to be the climax.

For that speech, Williams recommended that McCain returns to presenting himself as a rogue within the political system.

"I think he needs to remind people that he is a lifelong maverick reformer," said Williams, who elaborated that McCain also should emphasize that he "fought to establish fiscal responsibility and supported a strong military."