By Kelline Linton, Chief Copy Editor

With the President-elect declared, the nation’s attention is glued on Barack Obama, but my focus remains on the Republican candidate. No, not Sen. John McCain. I’m talking about Gov. Sarah Palin. Love her or hate her, Palin was a phenomenon as the Republican vice presidential running mate. McCain plucked this self-declared moose-hunting hockey mom from obscurity and thrust her on the national stage.

Imagine an unknown governor from Alaska competing against Joe Biden, the senior U.S. senator from Delaware who began his Senate career in 1972 as the fifth-youngest senator in U.S. history.

Palin’s political career includes six years as mayor of Wasilla, Alaska, and about two years as governor of Alaska; although, she is the first female governor of Alaska and the youngest person elected to the position.

And as the presidential celebrations continue, pundits, critics, reporters and bloggers all are discussing Palin’s future in the Republican Party. Will she run against Obama for president in 2012?

In McCain’s concession speech Tuesday night, he talked about Palin.

“We can all look forward with great interest to her future service to Alaska, the Republican Party and our country,” he said.

In her hometown of Wasilla, “Palin 2012” T-shirts are already on sale.

Asked by reporters if she might run for president, Palin said, “We’ll see what happens then.”

During the campaign, Palin drew bigger crowds than Mc-Cain. She was a powerful performer in front of thousands of Republican supporters but was less successful in television interviews (an understatement).

Her frumpy outfits, folksy, “you betcha” style and nonsensical, rambling answers made some doubt the wisdom in placing her a heartbeat away from the presidency.

But my Palin dedication never faltered. Who could resist watching her every movement on television from doppelganger Tina Fey’s hilarious impersonations to Palin’s own ultraconservative statements and disastrous performances in TV interviews?

Palin’s charisma is refreshing, and her down-to-earth attitude adds spice to a stale Republican party.

If she can rebuild her damaged image, gain more experience and get re-elected in the next few years, who knows what may happen?

For now, the GOP remains “The Sarah Party,” and I remain a fervent fan of the most entertaining candidate of the year.