Less than a week ago, Sarah Palin was virtually unknown to the rest of the world. But in Wasilla and the Tailgaters Sports Bar and Grill, she's the hometown girl who has made them proud—especially Wednesday night.

At Tailgaters, it was standing room only. Valley residents watched TV screens as one of their own took the national stage 4,000 miles away.

"This is her hometown," said Cheryl Metiva, executive director of the Greater Wasilla Chamber of Commerce, which coordinated the so-called "Rally at the Valley."

Scott Myers, a dog musher from Palmer, was nursing a Coke in the bar, his eyes glued to the Fox News screen, sporting a hat that read "Dysfunctional Veteran - Don't Talk To Me." He described himself as "very conservative."

"I felt McCain, if he ran with Lieberman, we'd go down the tank," Myers said. "So when I heard Sarah was his running mate, I felt that I don't have to throw a vote away. You know what I mean? It's very emotional, very emotional."

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Myers said he wasn't surprised when Palin was declared McCain's running mate after three months of rumors, "but when I finally heard she made it, I cried all the way to Anchorage."

Myers has never personally met her, but said she's "like family."

It's a sentiment echoed by the nearly 200 Valley residents that packed Tailgaters Wednesday night. Palin is their former mayor, current governor and vice presidential candidate. But they said she's first and foremost a down-to-Earth Alaskan.

"At a ball I organized, someone complimented her on her beautiful dress. And she said, 'Thank you. I just bought it off the rack at JC Penney.'"

At the sports bar, there was no mention of Troopergate nor her daughter's pregnancy—just standing ovations, laughter at her children's on-camera antics and some tears as the hometown

girl addressed the world in the biggest speech of her life.

Wasilla resident Janet St. George wiped away tears throughout the speech. St. George said she related to Palin as a mother.

"I thought she did a great job," St. George said.

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