MANCHESTER – Still energized by Republican presidential candidate's John McCain's pick for vice president, New Hampshire Republicans say -- unlike Democrats -- their convention will have only one voice calling for change in Washington.

Many said the selection of Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin as vice president allows McCain to cement his image as a maverick who wants to shake up the status quo. Others say the move will help McCain distance himself from an unpopular President.

State party activists are also pleased the convention is expected to vote tomorrow to ratify a presidential selection plan preserving New Hampshire's lead-off role for 2012.

"John McCain intervened personally to get those votes changed because the plan (the convention rules committee was) working on was not as favorable to New Hampshire," McCain New Hampshire co-chairman Chuck Douglas said.

Speaking from Minneapolis, state party Chairman Fergus Cullen said from a New Hampshire perspective, the selection plan has to be the number-one priority. It should be settled by tomorrow's vote, he said.

Cullen and others were still praising the choice of Palin as the vice presidential candidate.

"I love her record as a reformer and someone who has challenged the establishment in Alaska," Cullen said. "She underscores the idea that voters are going to get change with a McCain administration as well. She's as much of a Washington outsider as you can get."

He noted that Palin said her state does not need the "bridge to nowhere" secured by the state's Republican Congressman Donald Young. In Alaska, Young is involved in a very close primary race that could take several weeks to determine who won.

"That's exactly what the Republican Party needs, to have someone prepared to stand up to people like Don Young, (whose actions are) why my party is in the minority," Cullen said.

Douglas said Palin adds spark to the convention and will make it a lot more fun.

"Her contribution is in shaking things up, which is just what John McCain wants to do. In Alaska, which is essentially a one-party state, she took on the Republican establishment. She's not afraid to break some china if she's going to redo the kitchen."

He said the Republican convention will have one voice with a focus on reform and peace and prosperity -- not three days of the Clintons and one day for the nominee at a different site, as the Democrats did.

New Hampshire political commentator Dean Spiliotes said Palin's selection as vice president allows McCain to distinguish himself from Bush.

"The criticism you've heard the longest is McCain would be four more years of the Bush administration," he said.

McCain has been hampered a bit by the distrust of social conservatives, Spiliotes said, but "Palin buys him a little more breathing room."

Palin is a pro-life, social conservative and strong supporter of gun rights.

But Spiliotes said Republicans will need to show how Palin is prepared to take over for McCain if something happens to him.

"The experience issue will be recast a little bit," he said.

Republican delegate Rich Killion said from Minneapolis that conventions still matter because they give a party and its presidential candidate "a chance to talk directly to the nation about what that candidate wants to do."

"I'm excited because I think Washington is broken and I'm looking forward to hear Sen. McCain say how he will bring real and much-needed reform to Washington," Killion said. "His pick of Sarah Palin really amplifies that he really wants to shake up Washington."

Jayne Millerick, former party chairman and current vice chairman of McCain's New Hampshire campaign, said the convention "provides Sen. McCain the opportunity to show the nation not only the issues that are important to him, but also the individuals who he will surround himself with as President."

Many of them will be speakers at the convention, explaining what they do around the country to make the United States better, Millerick said.

National Republican Committeeman and delegate Sean Mahoney said the convention will be an opportunity for Republicans to explain to their fellow Americans why McCain should be the next President.

"There's a stark difference between what John McCain wants to do for the country in the next four years, and what (Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama) wants to do," Mahoney said. "This election comes down to experience."