Sometime before the November election, I'd love to hear Gov. Linda Lingle go beyond the sound bites in explaining what she sees in GOP vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin.

Lingle has emerged as a major supporter of Palin since John McCain added her to the Republican ticket. She gave an introductory speech for Palin at the GOP convention and is on the Mainland this week acting as a "surrogate" for the Alaska governor at her debate tomorrow against Democrat Joseph Biden.

But Lingle's endorsements have been on the fuzzy side, describing Palin at various times as "a leader and a winner ... genuine ... comfortable in her own skin ... truly authentic."

"Gov. Palin represents the true American spirit, as a wife, 'hockey mom' of five, a skilled hunter and an accomplished snowmobile racer," Lingle said in her initial reaction to Palin's nomination.

And that qualifies her to be a heartbeat from the presidency because ...

Palin electrified the Republican convention with her acceptance speech and seemed to bring new life to McCain's battle against Barack Obama for president.

But she was mostly reading lines written for her by a former speechwriter for President Bush, and her star has dimmed in the weeks since the convention.

The Republicans' reluctance to let her out on her own except under the most tightly controlled circumstances is alarming even some McCain backers. If it's not safe for her to campaign on her own, how can voters justify putting her in line to succeed McCain, who at 72 would be our oldest first-term president.

Palin has given three interviews since the convention compared to more than 100 by Biden, and on one of the few occasions she was let out to campaign alone she contradicted McCain on launching attacks in Pakistan.

She's looked bad refusing to cooperate with the "Troopergate" investigation against her in Alaska after saying she welcomed it. She looked silly claiming expertise on Russia because you can see it from parts of Alaska. An AP investigation revealed she received numerous favors as mayor of Wasilla from zoning breaks to free facials.

Then there's Palin's curious relationship with Kenyan Pentecostal Bishop Thomas Muthee, who is controversial for his witch-hunting crusades. A 2005 video circulating on the Internet shows Muthee praying over Palin that she be protected against witchcraft.

If Palin doesn't come through with a dynamite debate performance against Biden, she could end up a major drag on the Republican ticket instead of the boost McCain sought.

Lingle says she became a friend and admirer of Palin's through their dealings at national governors meetings, but her endorsements have glossed over their significant differences on issues such as abortion.

When she talks about Palin as a woman, a governor and a former mayor, it sometimes sounds like she's paying tribute to herself as much as her Alaskan counterpart.

It's difficult to tell if Lingle really believes that Palin is qualified for the presidential ticket or if she's just building brownie points with the national party that she can cash in when her own term as governor ends in two years.

I'd like to hear Lingle offer a more nitty-gritty case for Palin's qualifications on the wide range of issues that face a president not to put her on the spot, but because there are real concerns and somebody needs to credibly connect the dots.

There's no question that McCain is qualified to be president, but if voters don't buy that Palin is qualified to step in for him on a moment's notice, it's probably lights out for the Republicans.

It's difficult to tell if Lingle really believes that Palin is qualified for the presidential ticket or if she's just building brownie points with the national party that she can cash in when her own term as governor ends in two years.

David Shapiro, a veteran Hawai'i journalist, can be reached by e-mail at dave@volcanicash.net. His columns are archived at www.volcanicash.net. Read his daily blog, Volcanic Ash, at volcanicash.honadvblogs.com.

David Shapiro, a veteran Hawai'i journalist, can be reached by e-mail at dave@volcanicash.net. His columns are archived at www.volcanicash.net. Read his daily blog at blogs.honoluluadvertiser.com.