John McCain

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Meg WhitmanST. PAUL, Minn. -- Former eBay CEO and potential 2010 gubernatorial candidate Meg Whitman was spotted on the convention floor of the Xcel Energy Center when the balloons began to drop following John McCain's acceptance speech.

When asked by PolitickerCA.com if McCain's speech was effective, Whitman said: "I think so. ... It was specific, inspiring, and terrific."

BLOOMINGTON, Minn. - The California delegation to the Republican National Convention hopes some of the energy generated this week by the presidential ticket can be used to boost chances for U.S. Sen. John McCain in the state, as well as lower offices back home, said state party chairman Ron Nehring.

"We'll cover more precincts and we'll raise more money," said Nehring, an at-large delegate to the convention who lives in San Diego.

Nehring said he believes state residents will vote for a Republican with strong leadership and character qualities, pointing to both Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and Insurance Commissioner Steve Poizner as examples.

U.S. Rep. Dan Lungren (R-Gold River)BLOOMINGTON, Minn. - The Republican Party is energized, and that could translate into a more competitive situation in California, U.S Rep. Dan Lungren (R-Gold River) said on Thursday.

Lungren, a member of the California delegation, said that Wednesday's events at the Republican National Convention showed a Republican Party united and jazzed for November.

BLAINE, Minn. - California Republicans have a stronger chance of success when the party is unified from the governor on down, State Sen. Dick Ackerman (R-Tustin) believes.

Ackerman, a delegate attending the Republican National Convention and a former state Senate Republican leader, said some party members believe that Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger didn't do enough to help fellow GOP politicians running for statewide office in 2006.

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Former Hewlett-Packard CEO Carly Fiorina at the Republican National Convention: Getty Images PhotoST. PAUL, Minn. - Carly Fiorina drew a picture of what the United States would look like at the end of a theoretical first term for U.S. Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) as president, in keeping with a thread flowing through the night of a Republican ticket promising better economic times.

Fiorina, former CEO of high-tech giant Hewlett-Packard, presented the choice before voters on Nov. 4 as a question to ask at a crossroads, and said that choosing the Democratic ticket of U.S. Sens. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) and Joe Biden (D-Del.) was a path to less personal choice and more government bureaucracy.

By contrast, she said to attendees at the Republican National Convention, the McCain/Sarah Palin ticket suggests a love of country and desire to work with the other party.

Former eBay CEO Meg Whitman speaks at the Republican National Convention: Getty Images PhotoST. PAUL, Minn. - Former EBay CEO Meg Whitman sounded a theme of economic strength to delegates to the Republican National Convention Wednesday.

Whitman said presumptive Republican presidential nominee U.S. Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) understands what creates wealth: free markets, small businesses and lower taxes.

"We think our politicians may be out of touch and out of ideas," said Whitman, a California resident and co-chair of the Victory 2008 campaign for McCain. "That may be true of some, but not Sen. John McCain."

ST. PAUL, Minn. - Former EBay CEO Meg Whitman sounded a theme of economic strength to delegates to the Republican National Convention Wednesday.

Whitman said presumptive Republican presidential nominee U.S. Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) understands what creates wealth: free markets, small businesses and lower taxes.

"We think our politicians may be out of touch and out of ideas," said Whitman, a California resident and co-chair of the Victory 2008 campaign for McCain. "That may be true of some, but not Sen. John McCain."

U.S. Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-Utah): Getty Images PhotoBLOOMINGTON, Minn. - U.S. Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) said he had "tears in his eyes" when fellow U.S. Sen. John McCain announced Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin as his vice presidential running mate last week.

"I've been getting calls and emails from women all over the U.S. saying, ‘you know, she's one of us,'" Hatch said as he addressed the California delegation to the Republican National Convention Wednesday morning at a caucus breakfast.