National Republican Convention

As Maine Goes, the conservative message board for Maine politics, was buzzing with news about the VP pick today, said editor Scott Fish. At 4 p.m., the thread about the pick had 119 replies and 2,447 page views, Fish said.

About 90 percent of the posters were excited about the pick, including some who had been weary about McCain.

Chris Potholm, a political science professor at Bowdoin College, said this will help those to the far right who said McCain was too moderate.

Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin (R) has a background in hunting, fishing and snowmobiling, and some Republicans say this will make U.S. Sen. John McCain's (R-Ariz.) ticket very attractive in the 2nd Congressional District.

"McCain can't win the second district," said Chris Potholm, a political science professor at Bowdoin College. "But she can win it for him."