The Alaska governor jazzed the conservative base, and she also set a pick for McCain to recast himself as a maverick reformer.

FORBES: The Economy Is The Story

One of the fears among Republicans all along has been that the party's conservative base, not considering a former governor of Massachusetts who once backed abortion rights and his own version of government health insurance to be one of their own, would drift away.

WSJ: Three Reasons the Presidential Race Isn't Over

In 1964, the Republican Party was unhappily split going into the primaries that year, between a hard-edged, populist true believer who many feared might prove unelectable (Goldwater then, Palin today) and a wealthy northeastern governor distrusted by the base as wishy-washy (Rockefeller then, Romney today).

FORBES: Bye Bye Beijing, Hello White House?

Romney's campaign still struggles to generate enthusiasm among the GOP conservative base, which questions his more moderate stances as Massachusetts governor.

CNN: Romney condemns Obama's 'assault on our economic freedom'

The central bank, under its new governor Haruhiko Kuroda, has vowed to double the monetary base through purchases of government bonds to meet a 2 percent inflation target within the next two years.

NPR: Dollar Rises Above 100 Yen For 1st Time In 4 Years

Michigan Governor John Engler, meanwhile, was recruiting a mighty power base among the nation's G.

CNN: Who chose George?

Last month Tokyo applied to Governor Nakaima for a permit to begin landfill in the new base area.

FORBES: As Japan Commemorates A Postwar Return To Sovereignty Okinawans Lament A Day Of Shame

Five climbers, including two Thais, have reached base camps but have yet to be brought down from the mountain, the governor said.

WSJ: Philippines Volcano Spews Ash, Kills 5

Santorum could be a valuable ally for Romney by helping deliver the party's Republican base, which harbors some distrust of the conservative credentials of the former Massachusetts governor.

CNN: Santorum suspends campaign, clearing Romney's path