HOUSTON -- Does political experience matter more than personal family issues? That's the question some Houston area Republicans and voters are asking after more surprising revelations about the teenage daughter of Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, Sen. John McCain's vice presidential running mate, KPRC Local 2 reported Tuesday.

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"I don't think it's an issue. A lot of 17-year-olds make mistakes and her daughters no different." undecided voter Eva Jones told KPRC Local 2. "I'm glad Republicans have her as the running mate. I think she represents middle class America better than most Republicans."

University of Houston political science professor Brandon Rottinghaus said he believes Palin's family issues can be a distraction at the convention, but the Republicans can also use it to their advantage.

"Now you got more people interested (in Palin). Who is this woman?" Rottinghaus said he believes many voters are asking themselves.

That means more is riding on the speech that Palin will deliver at the convention Wednesday night.

"She may have a very big audience, and if that's the case it needs to be a whammy," he said. "It needs to be over the top fantastic, telling people she's just like everybody else and makes mistakes and works on her family and everything that everybody has to go through."