To show how she is not only relating but bringing in more of the public, I will use a personal example.  I was at a McCain/Palin rally in northern Virginia on Wednesday and there was over 22,000 people there.  We had to move it from a high school gym due to the over wellming response and excitement for the event throughout the whole area (due to some dirty politics as well).  While there I met McCain die hards, Palin lovers, Hillary supoprters and (as usual) there were those Obama freaks there as well.  But the Obama supporters were different this time.  Last time I was at an event it was a smaller venue for just McCain and Obama supporters almost out numbered the Republicans but this time the Obama supporters had no heart when standing up against 22,000 McCain/Palin fans.  If they yelled then we yelled louder, if they got one honk, we would get three, if they gained another member, we would gain 100.  It was the most amazing site I ever saw.  They knew that they were had at this event, the life was sucked out of them.  When comfronted with ideas they buckled and could not answer, when challenged to verbally debate they backed down, and when asked to take a stance they shuttered.  They were beaten.  

I do not know about what Palin has done directly to the party or for the race, but if she has allowed to party to gain the energy and enthuasiasm that I saw in Fairfax Virginia on Friday then she, single handedly, could be considered the Republican savior during this election.