Sarah Palin's Speech

At the Republican National Convention ...

Sarah Palin takes the podium and the crowd inexplicably goes wild, don't they know the media doesn't like her. She's not a Washington insider or one of the intellectual elite.

No, she didn't focus on pro-life issues - her stand on behalf of the unborn is well known.

Instead, she introduced herself and her family, highlighting the April birth of her son with Down Syndrome.

And in April, my husband Todd and I welcomed our littlest one into the world, a perfectly beautiful baby boy named Trig. From the inside, no family ever seems typical.

That's how it is with us.

Our family has the same ups and downs as any other ... the same challenges and the same joys.

Sometimes even the greatest joys bring challenge.

And children with special needs inspire a special love.

To the families of special-needs children all across this country, I have a message: For years, you sought to make America a more welcoming place for your sons and daughters.

I pledge to you that if we are elected, you will have a friend and advocate in the White House.

Her respect of life, conservative values, down to earth style, practical solutions and emphasis on family connect well with middle America. She's one of us.