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Tonight, America will get to know Gov. Sarah Palin -- John McCain's pick for vice president. She and her bosses at the McCain campaign know tonight's speech could be a springboard for the campaign. Palin has an important chance to establish herself and to, at least, attempt to put some distractions surrounding her in the background.
Also speaking tonight is former McCain rival Mitt Romney. Romney is expected to do exactly what he did in front of Utah delegates earlier in the week, urge his supporters to transfer their energy into supporting John McCain.
For one Utah delegate I talked to today, that hasn't been easy, but he says he's going to do it. Ben Horsley, a Utah Republican delegate, said, "If you truly support Romney, you'll do what Romney says. And I have to say I'm the biggest Romney supporter, and I will do what he's asked and support John McCain."
Don Guymon, another Utah Republican delegate, said, "If I am given a chance to vote, I would cast a vote for Mitt Romney. Based on promises I made to delegates to get elected, I would vote for Mitt Romney."
Delegates are getting more excited to hear from John McCain. There's a feeling that this convention is lacking in energy, compared to the Democrats last week. It got watered down by the hurricane news, but now they are back on track.
Gov. Jon Huntsman got bumped from the program, and he's not sure if he'll get to address the delegates, but even if he doesn't, he says he's 100 percent behind the McCain-Palin ticket.
E-mail: rpiatt@ksl.com
