For Palin, Showtime About to Begin

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Will that be enough? Depends on the audience. Palin's critics aren't likely to be won over, and her fans will cut her a break. But she faces the tricky balancing act of inspiring the party base while at the same time reaching out to undecided voters in the middle — especially the working-class women who are unsold on Barack Obama but decidedly unhappy with the GOP brand.

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"This is where she has to earn her nomination," says Republican strategist Ed Rogers. "The convention is jazzed by her, and McCain's reputation gets her the benefit of the doubt with independents. But her background does not confer instant credibility. That's what she has to earn by dealing with some of the uncertainty people have and showing some depth."

If she succeeds, it's on to the next test — the grind of the campaign trail, where exhaustion creeps up like leaking gas and making an offhand remark is like striking a match. And in October is her debate against Democratic Senator Joseph Biden.

Ultimately, the public's gaze will swing back to the top of the ticket, to John McCain vs. Barack Obama, and the significance of Sarah Palin will be whatever light — favorable or unfavorable — that she reflects upward. "It's a small factor," the McCain adviser said. "It may contribute in a small way. In 10 days, I kind of think it won't matter." (See photos of Sarah Palin here.)