What will Palin's impact be on other Republican women candidates?

Having Gov. Sarah Palin of Alaska on the presidential ticket will likely help many down-ballot Texas Republicans this fall, experts and candidates said, but few expect that she alone with significantly boost female Republican candidates' prospects in November.

Right now the "Palin Effect" seems to be generating more interest at the top of the ticket and activating the base. Daron Shaw, who leads the Texas Politics project at the University of Texas at Austin, said, "Republican partisans have been activated in a way that they were not before" which will help with fundraising and volunteer recruitment.

"We have seen a lot of complacency turned into activism," said Jessica Colon, the campaign manager for Joan Huffman, a Republican running in state Senate District 17. "We've had volunteers suggest that Joan start handing out lipstick at her events."

Donna Keel, an Austin Republican who is challenging state Rep. Valinda Bolton (D-Austin), echoed Colon's observation. 

"Palin has energized not only Travis County Republicans but most Republicans across the country.  We're glad to see diversity at the top of the ticket since we know that Republicans have always welcomed diversity to the party despite accusations of the contrary."

But political observers said the coat-tail affect will likely be minimal for Republican women running further down-ballot.

There may be a slight coat-tail affect for Republican women, said University of Houston political scientist Richard Murray, but all Republicans, he said, are facing a big challenge.

"This remains a difficult year for down-ballot Republicans, even in Texas as the party brand has been badly tarnished and the continuing economic woes put the governing party on the defensive with independent and swing voters," Murray said.

Shaw agreed Palin's impact will be modest. If some Democrats decide not to vote straight ticket with Palin on the ballot, they might also consider voting for other Republican women. Shaw however believes "party dominates in local races, with incumbency coming in a close second."

Many Republican women running in Texas races have biographies similar to Palin's, which could help them connect with voters. Keel has been a working mom, community leader and her son was born pre-mature and needed specialized care at first. Huffman's another mom who worked her way up through the legal system and tackled tough cases as a local criminal judge.

Shaw said, "Republicans with bios that blunt some of the natural (often negative) assumptions about Republican candidates ought to play that card."

It's not clear just yet whether their own personal biographies will shape their races the way PaIin's has so far.

"I don't know if this will have any effect on my campaign," Keel said. "I expect my race will focus on the issues, but the similarities and her success has been a psychological boost." 

Colon said Palin may have garnered a lot of attention because of her unique personal story, but it hasn't altered how her candidate will campaign.

"Joan Huffman's a tough lady ... and Sarah Palin's a tough woman too, and we're going to continue to tell that story," she said.