McConnell will put Palin's name up for nomination tonight at RNC

MINNEAPOLIS -- In the wake of her Republican National Convention speech last night in Minneapolis, Gov. Sarah Palin (R-Alaska) will actually be formally nominated as U.S. Sen. John McCain's (R-Ariz.) running mate tonight.

That nomination will happen with a Kentucky connection, as U.S. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Louisville) will be the one to formally submit Palin's name into nomination, according to McConnell's office.

The official nomination of Palin is scheduled to occur from between 6pm and 7pm CT, though the convention schedule has been fluid leading up to today's final events.

McConnell has been prominently featured in several Republican National Convention events, even though his initial speaking slot was scrapped on Monday night. McConnell opened convention events last night and delivered a speech.

During the convention, he serves as the event's temporary chairman, though that role drew some criticism from his opponent in Kentucky's U.S. Senate race.

Louisville businessman Bruce Lunsford (D-Louisville) derided McConnell's post last week at the Democratic National Convention, arguing it was part of an effort to paint McConnell as a leader - a reputation Lunsford claimed the incumbent did not deserve.