In quotes: Reaction to Palin's speech

Reaction to Republican vice-presidential candidate Sarah Palin's debut speech before the party's convention in St Paul, Minnesota.

MIKE DUFFY, TIME MAGAZINE

Only a few times in the last 25 years have we seen what we saw here tonight. It happened in Chicago in 2004 with Barack Obama and it happened here tonight: a star was born.

NEW YORK TIMES

Sarah Palin, the vice presidential nominee, was a combative and witty relief at a torpid convention. But it was bizarre hearing the running mate of a 26-year veteran of Congress, a woman who was picked to placate the right-wing elite, mocking "the permanent political establishment in Washington."

LYNN SWEET, CHICAGO SUN-TIMES

Palin did not flinch as she sliced, diced and mocked Barack Obama in her debut speech on a major stage.

JED BABBIN, HUMAN EVENTS

Palin's performance was so good, her vice-presidential adversary, Sen Joe Biden, will not be able to bob and weave only in the 2 October [vice-presidential] debate. He may float like a butterfly, but Palin stings like a bee.

EZRA KLEIN, AMERICAN PROSPECT

It was an auspicious debut, the sort of address that would be judged a success if she were a newcomer keynoting the convention. She landed clean punches, temporarily silenced some of her critics, and retold John McCain's story with a keen sense for the drama of his experience. But I expected more.

KATHLEEN PARKER, NATIONAL REVIEW

There's time to hash out the details, but one can't help but be excited by the reception of a woman vice-presidential candidate. Just as we all felt proud when Barack Obama became the first African-American presidential candidate.

GEORGIA10, DAILY KOS

With her snarky, amateurish, almost Student Council-like speech, Palin proved today that she can attack like a candidate for vice-president. And she demonstrated that she can support the top of the ticket like a candidate for vice-president. But nowhere in her speech did she demonstrate that she can be vice-president.

ANN FRIEDMAN, AMERICAN PROSPECT

Shorter version of the speech: Alaska! [Cut to baby] "Community organisers" suck. [Cut to baby] DRILL, BABY, DRILL! [Cut to baby] John McCain = American hero. [Cut to entire family onstage.]

RELATED INTERNET LINKS
John McCain's election website
Republican National Committee
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