St. Paul — Governor Sarah Palin’s speech to the Republicans Wednesday night was “brilliant,” according to a young community-college leader and convention delegate.

“She really proved she has it,” said Chris Daniel, a trustee with the Lone Star College System and a Texas delegate. “After tonight, she’s going to be more popular than John McCain.”

The Alaska governor and presumptive vice-presidential nominee touched little on education in her speech, although she noted that she first ran for the PTA to make her “kids’ public education even better” and touted her record on a favorite issue of Senator McCain’s, wasteful spending. Ms. Palin said she vetoed nearly a half-billion dollars in state spending as governor and said “thanks but no thanks” to Congressional pork-barrel projects.

Still, Mr. Daniel, who is 26 years old and won his seat two years ago by unseating the chairman of the Board of Trustees, said he was pleased by Governor Palin’s speech and by her attacks on the Democratic ticket. “I’m really fired up,” he said, as delegates crowded the convention floor, cheering for Ms. Palin and Mr. McCain, who made a brief appearance with his running mate.

Mr. Daniel, who is working part time toward a law degree at South Texas College of Law, also is fired up by his role governing the college system, the second-largest in the state. He says he is proud of being able to hold tuition costs in check and of working to lower the cost of textbooks.

When Senator McCain delivers his acceptance speech, Mr. Daniel has one request: “I hope he mentions the importance of education, of higher education,” he says.