Arkansas delegates, like other Republicans in the convention hall Wednesday, had only good things to say about Sarah Palin’s vice presidential acceptance speech.

Delegates had been excited all week about John McCain’s surprise choice for a running mate. They said Palin kept impressing with her remarks.

“It was awesome. She hit it out of the park and it’s still going,:” said Robin Lundstrum of Springdale. “She hit all the right notes.”

Lundstrum said she was pleased to hear Palin’s assurance that America would become energy independent during a McCain-Palin administration. She also was satisfied that Palin talked tough on taxes.

“I’m just so pleased, she didn’t talk over all the issues. She just told you what she thought. She doesn’t talk out of both sides of her mouth,” Lundstrum said.

During a week where the McCain-Palin campaign announced that Palin’s 17-year-old daughter was pregnant, Arkansas Delegate Joseph Wood of Fayetteville said he thought it was important Palin didn’t gloss over her family issues.

“She said what she needed to say about the challenges her family has faced and she did a good job,” Wood said. “She didn’t go into all the dirty details.”

Palin, too, struck the right tone on Democratic candidate Barack Obama, Wood said.

“She didn’t go after Obama. She just went after his record,” Wood said.

As thousands travel to the Twin Cities in Minnesota this weekend for the start of the Republican National Convention, GOP officials are keeping an eye on the Gulf of Mexico as Tropical Storm Gustav churns toward the coast.

Republicans could delay the convention’s start if Gustav threatens. Otherwise, Republicans may be criticized for celebrating in Minnesota during a disaster elsewhere.

One Arkansas convention delegate said she thinks Republicans should press on with their convention, regardless of what happens with Gustav.

“The world doesn’t stop revolving on its axis because we have a hurricane. Neither does the United States,” said Anne Britton of Faytteville.

Britton said she was sympathetic to those in the storm’s path, but that “we need to show the world we’re capable of doing two things at once.”

Britton has been in Minneapolis-St. Paul for almost a week already to attend GOP caucus meetings.

To Joseph Wood, a Fayetteville delegate for John McCain, that the presumptive presidential nominee is even considering a delay shows his presidential ability.

“It’s him stepping out and acting as president,” Wood said. “He’s saying, ‘Hey, this is coming. We need to be ready.’”