ST. PAUL – U.S. Rep. John Shimkus of Southern Illinois, an early John McCain supporter, was thrilled with running mate Sarah Palin’s speech tonight.

“I was so pleased,” Shimkus said. “She’s got this sarcastic little wit that I think she can stand up to anybody the Democrats can throw at her.”

Palin, Shimkus said, “did exactly what she needed to do.”

“She really drew contrasts between her life and the elitism that Democrats represent,” Shimkus said. “Talk about motivating the base. Rural America, that’s really the conservative base.”