ST. PAUL, Minn. -- Greeted by thunderous applause, Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin presented herself to the Republican National Convention on Wednesday, and millions of Americans watching from home, as a small-town outsider ready to join Sen. John McCain's ticket in waging "a tough fight in this election against confident opponents at a crucial hour for our country."

Video: Palin Slams Obama | RNC Coverage

In a night that ended with the official nomination of McCain for the Republican ticket, Palin presented herself to the delegates and to millions of Americans watching from home as a small-town outsider ready to join McCain's ticket in waging "a tough fight in this election against confident opponents at a crucial hour for our country."

"I will be honored to accept the nomination for vice president of the United States," she said in the convention's most anticipated speech.

With those words, the crowd roared -- and the flashes of thousands of cameras reflected off her glasses. (Watch Video | Full Text)

It was the crowning moment of a roller-coaster week in which the first woman ever on a Republican presidential ticket has faced questions about how closely the McCain campaign scrutinized her. She also has heard a wide range of inquiries about family issues, her policy positions and her record of public service.

To the delight of the delegates, McCain strolled unexpectedly onto the convention stage after the speech and hugged his running mate.

"Don't you think we made the right choice" for vice president? he said as his delegates roared their approval.

Palin took crowd-delighting swipes at Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama and what she called the "Washington elite."

"Here's a little news flash for all those reporters and commentators: I'm not going to Washington to seek their good opinion. I'm going to Washington to serve the people of this country," the 44-year-old "hockey mom" said.

Selected by McCain last Friday, Palin addressed the convention amid questions about her qualifications and relative lack of experience.

The first-term governor had top billing at the convention on a night delegates also lined up for a noisy roll call of the states to deliver their presidential nomination to McCain.

Watching her from inside the convention hall were members of Palin's family, including husband Todd, and their children, including 17-year-old Bristol Palin, whom the Palins disclosed earlier in the week was five months pregnant. Bristol Palin's 18-year-old boyfriend and apparent fiance, Levi Johnston, was seated with them.

McCain shook up the presidential race by picking Palin, a little-known governor less than two years in office. Since then, a bright spotlight has been trained on the life and record of the Republican governor who has bucked the state's political establishment.

Days after Palin made her debut on the national stage with McCain, the campaign announced her unmarried daughter's pregnancy. Other disclosures followed, including that a private attorney is authorized to spend $95,000 of state money to defend her against accusations of abuse of power and that Palin sought pork-barrel projects for her city and state, contrary to her reformist image.

"Our family has the same ups and downs as any other ... the same challenges and the same joys," she said.

Noting that the couple's oldest son, Track, 19, was shipping out to Iraq in eight days with the Army infantry, Palin praised McCain as "a true profile in courage, and people like that are hard to come by."

"He's a man who wore the uniform of this country for 22 years, and refused to break faith with those troops in Iraq who have now brought victory within sight. And as the mother of one of those troops, that is exactly the kind of man I want as commander in chief," she said.

Largely unknown outside her home state, Palin told the convention: "I had the privilege of living most of my life in a small town. I was just your average hockey mom, and signed up for the PTA because I wanted to make my kids' public education better," she said, speaking of her home town of Wasilla, Alaska, with a population of about 6,500.

"When I ran for City Council, I didn't need focus groups and voter profiles because I knew those voters, and knew their families, too," she said.

Before becoming governor, Palin served as mayor of Wasilla, she recounted, adding: "And since our opponents in this presidential election seem to look down on that experience, let me explain to them what the job involves. I guess a small-town mayor is sort of like a 'community organizer,' except that you have actual responsibilities."

That was a clear jab at Obama, who as a young man worked as a community organizer in Chicago, an experience he speaks about frequently on the campaign trail. That remark brought a loud outburst of laughter and applause.

In another barb directed at the Illinois Democrat, Palin said: "Here's how I look at the choice Americans face in this election. In politics, there are some candidates who use change to promote their careers. And then there are those, like John McCain, who use their careers to promote change."

After Palin's speech, the Arizona senator clinched his party's nod in a roll-call vote.

McCain is scheduled to accept the nomination in a speech Thursday night. He heads into a competitive fall campaign against Obama. If elected, the 72-year-old McCain would be the oldest first-term president.

McCain's Ex-Rivals Speak On His Behalf

Former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani declared Wednesday that McCain is the man the people should trust to lead the country at a dangerous time in its history.

Giuliani said that McCain "has been tested time and again in crisis" and said that even his adversaries acknowledge that he is "a true American hero." (Watch Video | Full Text)

Speaking ahead of Giuliani, former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee harshly criticized media coverage of Republican presidential politics.

Huckabee said the heavy scrutiny of the party, especially Palin, had the effect of unifying the GOP. He said news media coverage has been "tackier than a costume change at a Madonna concert." (Watch Video | Full Text)

Earlier, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney said Washington is dominated by liberal politics and asserted that people are tired of it. The Michigan native said the country needs change "from a liberal Washington to a conservative Washington." (Watch Video | Full Text)

Read more about the Giuliani, Romney and Huckabee speeches.