JOHN McCain took a gamble when he chose Sarah Palin as his running mate.

The Alaska governor was unknown and untested on the national stage - a true neophyte, as Arch Moore famously said of Gaston Caperton in 1988.

She came out of nowhere and lacked the kind of experience typically associated with a national campaign.

 And when the press digs more fully into her background, it may lead to distracting questions that could dog Palin along the campaign trail.

But McCain, who trails in the polls, decided to take a risk.

And Palin, by all accounts, has rewarded his faith in her by far exceeding expectations in her convention address.

Actually, few outside of Nome or Juneau really knew what to expect.

Most political observers here in St. Paul - even the lefties - believe she gave a great speech.

George Ste-phanopoulos, who helped run Bill Clinton's first presidential campaign, gave her an "A."

NBC's Tom Brokaw said: "She could not have been more winning or engaging."

CNN's Anderson Cooper said: "A star is born for the Republican Party."

 Some along radio row here at the convention were surprised Palin went right after Barack Obama, using sarcasm to try to belittle the Democratic nominee. But when you are behind and the election is two months away, there's no time to waste.

Palin also scored points, I thought, when she talked about energy.

The "drill here, drill now" mantra of the Republicans oversimplifies the nation's energy issues, but it plays well when gas prices are high. Moreover, Palin has credibility here because she governs an energy-producing state.

JOHN McCain took a gamble when he chose Sarah Palin as his running mate.

The Alaska governor was unknown and untested on the national stage - a true neophyte, as Arch Moore famously said of Gaston Caperton in 1988.

She came out of nowhere and lacked the kind of experience typically associated with a national campaign.

 And when the press digs more fully into her background, it may lead to distracting questions that could dog Palin along the campaign trail.

But McCain, who trails in the polls, decided to take a risk.

And Palin, by all accounts, has rewarded his faith in her by far exceeding expectations in her convention address.

Actually, few outside of Nome or Juneau really knew what to expect.

Most political observers here in St. Paul - even the lefties - believe she gave a great speech.

George Ste-phanopoulos, who helped run Bill Clinton's first presidential campaign, gave her an "A."

NBC's Tom Brokaw said: "She could not have been more winning or engaging."

CNN's Anderson Cooper said: "A star is born for the Republican Party."

 Some along radio row here at the convention were surprised Palin went right after Barack Obama, using sarcasm to try to belittle the Democratic nominee. But when you are behind and the election is two months away, there's no time to waste.

Palin also scored points, I thought, when she talked about energy.

The "drill here, drill now" mantra of the Republicans oversimplifies the nation's energy issues, but it plays well when gas prices are high. Moreover, Palin has credibility here because she governs an energy-producing state.

 And she appears to be the perfect embodiment of the maverick image that McCain has worked hard to establish.

True, as mayor of a small town Palin worked to secure millions of dollars in earmarks for government projects, but she also has enough of a reform record to present herself as someone who is not part of the Washington establishment.

More than anything, though, Palin looks and acts a lot like us or people we know.

I wonder how many mothers look at Palin with empathy. Her family struggles make her more human.

So far, Palin has what they call in politics "the narrative," a personal story the McCain campaign hopes will resonate with voters.

But Wednesday night was just one speech - granted, a speech where she did amazingly well, but other hurdles await.

She will have to debate the formidable Joe Biden. Shadowed relentlessly by political reporters over the next two months, she'll need to watch what she says and does.

Meantime, investigative reporters will be looking for flaws in her background.

And her criticism of the media Wednesday night may have given extra motivation to the media to bring her down a peg or two.  

Still, Palin has people talking and Republicans energized. The shot of adrenalin is just what the McCain campaign needed coming out of St. Paul.

Palin at the moment seems to be the fresh face the GOP desperately needed.

The odds are still against McCain-Palin.

But gambles sometimes pay off. Sarah Palin is no sure thing, but after St. Paul, the odds for keeping a Republican in the White are better.

Kercheval is host of TalkLine, broadcast by the MetroNews Statewide Radio Network from 10 a.m. to noon Monday through Friday. The show can be heard locally on WCHS 580 AM.