Senator McCain's decision to pick the little-known Alaska governor as his vice-presidential nominee sparked a storm of criticism from Democrats and political commentators as they picked through her thin resume.

But the evangelical conservative grass roots of the Republican Party, which helped secure two White House terms for Ronald Reagan and George W. Bush erupted in delight just in time for this week's party convention here.

The selection of Mrs Palin also unleashed a stunning torrent of campaign cash, as the McCain camp raised a staggering US$7 million (S$9.9 million) in the day-and-a-half since Mr McCain named Mrs Palin on Friday.

Mrs Palin was already seen by the Republican right wing as a heroine, for her opposition to abortion and decision to take the pregnancy of her fifth child this year to full term, despite the knowledge her son had Down syndrome.

She also opposes gay marriage and is a hunter and enthusiastic backer of gun rights, two other articles of faith for core conservatives.

McCain is taking a barrage of criticism from opponents who say Mrs Palin, who has been governor for only two years, is far too inexperienced for a position that could leave her a heartbeat away from the presidency in a time of war.

But he knows Mrs Palin can count on a rapturous reception at the Republican National Convention, which gets underway on Monday.

'Senator McCain made an outstanding pick from the choices that were on the table,' said Mr Tony Perkins of the Family Research Council, a key evangelical conservative grass roots movement.

'Governor Sarah Palin is an outspoken advocate for pro-family policies that energize social conservatives.'

Mr McCain has always struggled to connect with the social conservative wing of the Republican Party, and there had been suggestions that many such voters may stay home from the polls on November 4, and so hamper his chances.

Mr Richard Viguerie, an influential conservative and chairman of website Conservative HQ.com described Mrs Palin as 'perfect' and suggested she could inflame the Republican base.

'Conservatives, the base of the party, have been listless,' Mr Viguerie said in a statement.

'But, now, nearly all will work enthusiastically for the McCain-Palin ticket. In fact, this is the most enthusiastic conservatives have been since the era of Ronald Reagan.'

Mr Matthew Staver, chairman of the Baptist Liberty University school of law, said national conservative leaders meeting in Minneapolis before the Republican convention were delighted when they heard McCain's announcement.

'The excitement was palpable among conservative leaders when they heard that Governor Palin was Senator McCain's choice for vice president.

'There is a high level of optimism among conservative leaders that the McCain-Palin combination is a ticket that will connect with values voters.'

Mr McCain's pick of Mrs Palin was seen by some observers as a signal that his campaign braintrust believed he is in a much worse position than dead-heat opinion polls suggest and needed to so something dramatic to shake up the race.

Other critics said the move was a sign of Mr McCain's impulsive style of leadership. More charitable observers said Mrs Palin's sudden elevation meant that the old 'maverick' McCain, known for defying orthodoxy, was back.

The decision to go with Mrs Palin also seems to indicate that Mr McCain believes he needs a strong turnout from the Republican base vote to have any chance of beating Democrat Barack Obama in November.

The Washington Times, which takes a conservative editorial line, calculated in May that Mr McCain had garnered no more than 45 per cent of the Republican vote in his primary campaign and had won by attracting independent and swing voters.

But since then, he has concentrated on shoring up his support among conservatives who have opposed his moderate stands on global warming and immigration and campaign finance reform.

He has promised to nominate conservative justices to any possible new Supreme Court vacancies, just as Mr Bush has done. -- AFP