DENVER — Gov. Linda Lingle yesterday described Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, the Republicans' choice for vice president, as a tough and confident woman who brings experience as a chief executive that is not found on the Democratic ticket.

"I tell everyone, if they think she's going to fold on a national stage, it's not going to happen," Lingle told reporters at the state Capitol in Honolulu and on conference call here.

Palin, a mother of five who was elected governor in 2006, is the first woman and the youngest person to lead Alaska. She is only the second woman chosen for a major party vice presidential nomination, after Geraldine Ferraro by the Democrats in 1984.

Republicans said Palin may help energize U.S. Sen. John McCain's presidential campaign and could help the Arizona senator among women, including some women disappointed by U.S. Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton's defeat on the Democratic side.

Lingle and Palin are friends who have served together in the Republican Governors Association. The governor recalled how Palin, nine months' pregnant, fulfilled a commitment to give an energy speech to the RGA in Dallas in April and then returned back to Anchorage just in time to give birth to her fifth child.

"She is tough," Lingle said. "But she is a person who really is comfortable in her own skin and that's why I tell you she will not fold on a national stage, because she is not trying to invent herself."

Lingle was not among the Republicans mentioned as a possible running mate to McCain, but the selection of a woman governor from outside the continental United States led some in Hawai'i to wonder whether Lingle had been considered.

Lingle has said in the past, and repeated yesterday, that she made it clear to Republicans nationally that she was not interested in the nomination or a potential appointment in a McCain administration.

Lingle said she is committed to finishing the last two years of her second term and has not discussed her political future.

PALIN STUDIED IN ISLANDS

Palin, who was born in Idaho but grew up in Alaska, was a student for a semester in 1982 at Hawai'i Pacific University.

Alaska and Hawai'i have shared a political connection as the last two states admitted into the union. The state's congressional delegations have had an alliance in Washington, D.C., and often work together to leverage influence and compete with more populous states for federal resources.

Palin has, at times, had a difficult relationship with the Alaska Republicans who have been closest to Hawai'i.

Palin defeated incumbent Gov. Frank Murkowski in the Republican primary in 2006. Murkowski is a friend and ally of U.S. Sen. Daniel K. Akaka, D-Hawai'i, from their time serving together in the Senate.

Last year, Palin surprised some Republicans by urging U.S. Sen. Ted Stevens, R-Alaska, to speak publicly about a federal investigation into his ties to an Alaska oil services company.

Stevens has since been indicted by the federal government for filing false financial disclosure statements.

Stevens is the closest friend of U.S. Sen. Daniel K. Inouye, D-Hawai'i, in the Senate, and the pair brought millions in federal money to Alaska and Hawai'i over the past four decades.

Brian Schatz, the Democratic Party of Hawai'i chairman, said Palin undercuts McCain's argument on experience. Republicans have questioned whether U.S. Sen. Barack Obama of Illinois, the Democratic nominee, is prepared for the White House after serving only two years in the Senate.

Obama's selection of U.S. Sen. Joseph Biden of Delaware, a leader in foreign affairs, as his vice presidential nominee was seen by observers as a way to reduce concerns about Obama's lack of military and foreign policy experience.

"(Palin) has a compelling life story and is a popular governor, but it is hard with this choice for them to argue that McCain and Palin have more experience than Obama and Biden," Schatz said.

But Lingle said Palin has executive experience as a governor and a former Wasilla mayor that Obama and Biden lack.

"She has the kind of experience that neither Obama or Biden have," Lingle said. "Neither Obama or Biden have ever run anything. They've never been a mayor. They've never been governor. They've never run a company. They've never done anything. They've only been on the legislative side."

ABORTION FOE

Dan Boylan, a history professor at the University of Hawai'i-West O'ahu, said Palin could bring more women to the campaign nationally but doubts her selection will change the dynamic in Hawai'i, where Obama is favored.

Boylan said Palin is more conservative than Lingle on issues such as abortion and gun rights and will likely not be able to help McCain attract the moderate Democrats and independents who have been voting for Lingle.

But he said Palin helped McCain create some buzz heading into the Republican National Convention in St. Paul.

"That was a very fine strategic move. He was looking for juice and he got it," he said.

State Rep. Kymberly Pine, R-43rd ('Ewa Beach, Iroquois Point, Pu'uloa), who is involved in the local McCain campaign and a delegate to the Republican National Convention, said Palin's selection shows the party is committed to women in leadership.

"Today, you saw a party that doesn't just talk about placing women in the highest of leadership positions, we actually do it," Pine said. "This is in stark contrast to the Democrats who used Hillary Clinton just for votes but didn't believe in her enough to give her the vice presidential position."

State Rep. Gene Ward, R-17th (Kalama Valley, Queen's Gate, Hawai'i Kai), who also is involved in the local McCain campaign, said Palin would be a role model for working women.

"She's a superwoman," said Ward, a convention delegate. "More popular than Governor Lingle and as diverse and fresh to the political scene as anyone could be in this election."

Willes Lee, the state GOP chairman, said he believes Palin's selection was a good contrast for McCain given that the Democrats have chosen two senators.

"She's a proven executive, compared to another Washington insider," he said.