I am filled with admiration: watching Sarah Palin reminded me what it is I love about politics.

She delivered her speech without a flinch. She hit back at her attackers, and did it with style.

She must be under enormous pressure: a son about to leave for Iraq, a young daughter pregnant and a four-month-old baby with Downs. Most women would buckle under half of that – and she's got the world's media watching her!

She was sassy, articulate, feminine, warm, funny and as cool as a cucumber. She spoke about how families have their ups and downs – and in doing so – spoke to every family in the world.

She was so good, the anger of the Left will hit her full-on from now on in. She will face smears, rumours and lies. But there's no doubt she's used to that by now: when you take any position on reducing abortions it feels as though the hounds of hell are chasing you and that is, of course, until you realise that they are!

Obama and Biden will be a pushover in comparison. Every Republican activist, uplifted and inspired, will be out delivering leaflets and turning out votes. McCain-Palin: the new Dream Team.

And most of us had never heard of her until a few days ago. But as they say: a week is a long time in politics…