Sen. Jennifer Beck (R-Monmouth), campaigning last year with Assemblywoman Caroline Casagrande and Assemblyman Declan O'Scanlon.: Politicker file photo 

MINNEAPOLIS - Identifying in her hockey mom, small town mayor’s story the features of a universal American life, and exhilarated by her willingness to put her head down and charge after their rivals, members of New Jersey’s GOP delegation praised the acceptance speech delivered tonight by Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, their vice presidential nominee.

"I know my constituents will be able to identify with her, a working mother whose family depends on two incomes," said state Senate Minority Leader Tom Kean, Jr. (R-Union).

Since he first declared his hope two or three weeks ago that Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) would choose Palin as his running mate as a way of reaching base conservative voters, women, and blue collar America, Kean has consistently emphasized as a strength Palin’s distance from the ambitious political culture of Washington, D.C.

"This was someone who was picked because of her competence as governor, as opposed to her going out and seeking the office," the senator added.

Although Kean was on board early with Palin, other New Jerseyans unfamiliar with her story but aware of her pro-life, pro-gun positions and hardscrabble country roots didn’t know whether they would discover Huey Long in high heels or a hard-right stand-in to fill the common man/woman void left by the departure from presidential politics of former Sen. John Edwards.

For this group, Palin more than exceeded expectations - and game changes the race in part by reaching those women voters still fuming over Sen. Barack Obama’s (D-Ill.) Hillary Clinton flyover.

"I can’t tell you how many Republican women friends of mine told me they would vote for (former Democratic presidential candidate) Hillary Clinton," said state Sen. Jennifer Beck (R-Monmouth). "Their attitude was ‘this is our chance.’ I think you’ll see the same with some Democrat women and Sarah Palin. You’ll get some of those women going to Palin."

For State GOP Chairman Tom Wilson, the Alaska governor whom McCain plucked from relative obscurity to stand beside him as he makes the final two-month trudge toward Election Day, showed moxie tonight.

"When was the last time she was in front of a crowd that big?" said Wilson. "Seriously, for the first time doing that, she acquitted herself very well.

"They’re going to love her in Michigan," Wilson added. "Not in Detroit, no, but you go up farther where they know what a snow machine is, and she’ll be fine."

The speech infuriated Democrats, who kept the focus on what they cite as her extremist views.

"John McCain made a cynical political calculation in selecting Governor Palin as his running mate in order to appease the right-wing but he will further alienate New Jersey voters," Assembly Majority Leader Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-Ewing) said in a statement issued by the State Democratic Committee. 

"She's way outside the mainstream on key issues such as a woman's right to choose, guns and economic equality," the majority leader added. "The McCain-Palin ticket is bad for the country and terrible for New Jersey."

But Minneapolis was GOP country tonight. 

As he entered the Blue Water Grill in the Hilton and gave Kean, Jr., a high five, Burlington County Republican Chairman Bill Layton said of Palin, "We have a tiger. A Tiger!"

There were those not ready to sign off resoundingly on the Palin speech, lamenting what they heard as too much attitude and not enough pertinent factual information about their vice presidential candidate.

Some delegates made fast, "no comment" dashes in and out of the bar where a small but enthusiastic crowd drank and chatted while Fox News re-broadcast Palin's speech.

Others were no-shows.

"I’d like to have heard her talk about cutting taxes," admitted Assemblywoman Caroline Casagrande (R-Colts Neck).

Casagrande’s thought was that Palin has a good story as a public servant. Maybe it wasn’t the governor’s fault, but the remarks absorbed too much of the culture of politics as celebrity rather than the politics of communicating achievement in government.

But then again, Obama has done the same thing, she conceded.

Republican political operative Bill Spadea welcomed the Obama-Palin comparisons.

"What I find interesting is that all the talk is about Palin and Obama," Spadea said. "Our two is being contrasted with their one, and that works to our advantage."

After a Monday plug pull due to Hurricane Gustav, and a Tuesday night Bush-Thomson-Lieberman lineup that produced mostly dour or, at least, dutiful statements of enthusiasm, Palin made many of the Republicans feel that they had finally found a champion, and had given the convention some much needed dramatic focus.

"Tonight the golf ball was teed up," said Assemblyman David Rible (R-Wall). "Sarah gave it that half swing, and tomorrow night, Sen. McCain’s going to knock it out of there."