Hours before Sarah Palin delivered her Republican National Convention speech Wednesday night, Wyoming's delegates had already made up their minds about presidential candidate John McCain's little-known running mate.

"I think it's amazing and I'm delighted that we've got someone who understands the western issues," said Jan Larimer of Jackson, Wyoming's Republican national committeewoman, during a phone call from St. Paul, Minn. "This is a lady who deals with energy issues on a daily basis, and that's what we have in Wyoming."

Palin currently is Alaska's governor.

Larimer said Palin's family life, including reports that her 17-year-old daughter is pregnant, should be off limits. She's pleased to hear many Democrats agree.

"Her daughter isn't running for anything," Larimer said. "This is about Sarah and the job that she can do and how she can represent us well."

Larimer's daughter, Amy Larimer of Casper, the executive director of the Wyoming Republican Party, said Palin not only connected with her on western issues but as a working woman. Amy Larimer admired Palin for being a "strong woman" and "fiscally conservative."

"This is a real person," Jan Larimer said. "We're hearing it from the police here in Minnesota, from the bus drivers, that there's finally a real person on the ticket. Someone who works two jobs and understands what it's like."

During last week's Democratic National Convention in Denver, the party courted western voters by addressing alternative and domestic energy production possibilities among other things. The Larimers said while the Republican convention may be in Minnesota, party supporters from the Rocky Mountain region to the West Coast need to look no further than the podium for inspiration.

"We have a guy from Arizona and we have a gal from Alaska," Jan Larimer said. "They are part of what we do, especially Alaska. They understand energy issues and they understand safety issues. It's not like Arizona and Alaska are inside the Beltway."

Wyoming delegate Ed Buchanan, R-Torrington, the state House majority whip, said it's time the United States has a female serving at a high level of the executive branch.

"Women are at least 50 percent of the population, if not more," he said.

Earlier Wednesday, the Wyoming delegates stuffed 1,000 care packages for victims of Hurricane Gustav -- everything from hygiene products to food.

"It was amazing, there were thousands of people there," Jan Larimer said. "It was a very good, feel-good thing and it makes us aware of how that part of the country has been impacted time and time again. ... Our hearts go out to them."

On Wednesday afternoon, the delegates held a caucus with McCain's campaign staff. Convention speeches kicked off at 6:30 p.m. Central Time and the evening's events were expected to last until about 11:30.

McCain wraps up the four-day Republican convention tonight with his acceptance speech.

Contact Ron Gullberg at (307) 266-0560 or ron.gullberg@trib.com