ST. PAUL, Minn. -- During a sit down interview with reporters at the Crown Plaza hotel Wednesday morning, U.S. Sen. Arlen Specter (R-Philadelphia) said that Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, John McCain’s vice presidential nominee, will be a “common sense people person from the outside” and that voters are hungry for someone to end the bickering in Washington.

But when asked if she was ready to be vice president Specter hedged: “I think she has the potential … so let’s see what she says” during her speech to the Republican National Convention, scheduled for tonight at the Xcel Energy Center.

Although Specter said that he was surprised by the Palin pick, he defended the McCain campaign’s vetting process.

“I wouldn’t sell John McCain short,” he said.