Palin cheered by local women of GOP

Oline Shaw, 58, had never heard of Sarah Palin before the Alaska governor was chosen to be the Republican vice presidential candidate, but Shaw said Wednesday night that she is thrilled by the pick.

"I was glued to the TV," said Shaw, who has worked in male-dominated fields most of her life. "I had to fight through the '70s to get to the point where I am now. It's so exciting. It's about time."

Shaw was one of about 40 people, mostly women, who gathered Wednesday evening at the McCain campaign's King County headquarters in Bellevue to watch Palin accept the GOP vice-presidential nomination.

The viewing party clustered around a television and met Palin's speech at the Republican convention in Minnesota with raucous cheers, applause and waving of McCain posters and red pompoms.

The viewers were particularly supportive of Palin's remarks about energy independence, advocacy for people with special needs and the war in Iraq.

People whooped and laughed as she derided Democratic presidential nominee Barak Obama's experience as a community organizer.

Robin Poe, a 53-year-old Bellevue resident and Army veteran, said she appreciated Palin's support of the war. She also said that Palin's warmth was most noticeable during the speech.

"She has the Alaska pioneer woman attitude to go out in the wild and make a way for herself," Poe said. "I think she's going to resonate with the working man."

Peggy O'Ban, of Edmonds, spokeswoman for Washington Women for McCain, said she was impressed by Palin's "wonderful combination of strength and beauty."

"She's got the steely spine that's going to be necessary to not fall into the same grooves. She's going to shake up Washington," O'Ban said.

Shaw said she is still learning more about Palin's politics and experience, but that the vice-presidential candidate made a strong first impression.

"Everyone's saying she's either going to be fabulous or be a bust, so we'll see."

Noelene Clark: 206-464-2321 or nclark@seattletimes.com