Gov. Sarah Palin

WHAT: The highly popular governor of Alaska wowed Republican National Convention delegates with her no-holds-barred vice-presidential acceptance speech that took direct aim at Democrats, the Washington establishment and the national media. With only 27 percent of voters identifying themselves as Republicans this year – the lowest number in 16 years, Palin was widely praised for invigorating party loyalists and changing the dynamic of the 2008 presidential race.