WASILLA -- Gov. Sarah Palin touted what she called her shake-up of the ‘good ol’ boy’ network and her reformists ways when she officially accepted the Republican vice presidential nomination in St. Paul, Minn., tonight.

In accepting the position she made history as the second woman on a major party ticket, and she rose from relative political obscurity - at least on the national stage - to a household name.

Palin took the podium at the Republican National Convention to not only accept the vice presidential nomination, but to also drum up support for Republican presidential candidate Sen. John McCain. All around Alaska groups of Palin supporters gathered at local watering holes to watch Palin’s speech and cheer along with the crowd in St. Paul.

At Tailgaters in Wasilla, a standing room only crowd, many adorned in McCain-Palin T-shirts, hooted and hollered when Palin came on stage.

Media from Outside trained their cameras on locals as they watched the woman who has become their hometown hero make her speech.

Just before Palin emerged, the crowd at Tailgaters went wild when former New York City mayor Rudy Giuliani told Alaskans to be proud of their governor.

“I’m sorry Barack Obama doesn’t feel her home town is cosmopolitan enough,” Giuliani said. “Alaska can be proud of having the best governor in the country.”

Palin began her speech by accepting her position as the Republican veep nominee, acknowledging the challenge that lies ahead.

“I accept the challenge for a tough fight in this election,” Palin said.

Palin went on to talk about her family and upbringing, including how her parents have influenced her and how her own family is just like many in America.

“Our family has the same ups and downs,” Palin said.

Throughout her speech, Palin made jabs at Obama’s candidacy, though she only mentioned his name once.

“He’s authored two memoirs but not a single amendment,” Palin said in reference to Obama’s time in the U.S. Senate.

Palin also took on the media, who, since she was announced as McCain’s running mate Aug. 29, have left no rock unturned in their investigation of the unknown, former small-town mayor.

“I’m not going to Washington to seek their approval,” Palin said of the media. “I’m going to Washington for the people of this country.”

The Obama campaign, however, was quick to respond to Palin’s speech.

“The speech that Governor Palin gave was well delivered, but it was written by George Bush’s speech writer and sounds exactly like the same divisive, partisan attacks we’ve heard from George Bush for the last eight years,” Obama spokesman Bill Burton said in a statement. “If Governor Palin and John McCain want to define ‘change’ as voting with George Bush 90% of the time, that’s their choice, but we don’t think the American people are ready to take a 10% chance on change.”

The crowd at Tailgaters, which was mostly Palin supporters, did include some detractors.

Holly Gittlein, who said she thinks Palin is an amazing woman, thought the governor’s speech was lacking.

“I don’t think she said much,” Gittlein said. “She talked a lot about minor issues that deal with family.”

Gittlein added she thought Palin threw low blows at the Obama campaign with some of her remarks. She also said she hope voters remember they are voting for a president, not a vice president.

At one point in her speech, Palin, who said the United States is close to victory in Iraq, said Obama has never mentioned the word victory when talking about the war, and has only used the word when talking about his own election.

But fans of Palin outnumbered critics Wednesday night, as was proven by the number of “Go Sarah” shirts in the audience.

Dean Messiner, who lives six months in Alaska and six in Arizona, said Palin’s position on the Republican ticket has made him want to move to Alaska permanently.

She’s wonderful,” Messiner said. “I think she did fine.”

Just before Palin’s speech, Grant Stover sat at the bar waiting for Palin to come on. The Wasilla resident said he has nothing but confidence in Palin, going so far as saying she could run McCain’s job if he’s voted president.

“She’s doing a great job,” Stover said.

Contact Michael Rovito at michael.rovito@frontiersman.com or 352-2252.