FACTBOX: Quotes from the U.S. Republican convention

(Reuters) - Quotes from the third day of the U.S. Republican convention in St. Paul, Minnesota:

"Our opponents say, again and again, that drilling will not solve all of America's energy problems -- as if we all didn't know that already. But the fact that drilling won't solve every problem is no excuse to do nothing at all." -- Alaska governor and vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin in speech to the convention.

"I've learned quickly, these past few days, that if you're not a member in good standing of the Washington elite, then some in the media consider a candidate unqualified for that reason alone. But here's a little news flash for all those reporters and commentators: I'm not going to Washington to seek their good opinion - I'm going to Washington to serve the people of this country." -- Excerpt from Palin's speech.

"There is much to like and admire about our opponent. But listening to him speak, it's easy to forget that this is a man who has authored two memoirs but not a single major law or reform - not even in the state Senate," -- Palin's speech.

"But when the cloud of rhetoric has passed, when the roar of the crowd fades away, when the stadium lights go out, and those Styrofoam Greek columns are hauled back to some studio lot, what exactly is our opponent's plan? What does he actually seek to accomplish, after he's done turning back the waters and healing the planet? The answer is to make government bigger, take more of your money, give you more orders from Washington and to reduce the strength of America in a dangerous world. America needs more energy, our opponent is against producing it." -- Palin's speech.

"He is the least experienced candidate for president of the United States in at least the last 100 years."

"This is not a personal attack. It's a statement of fact - Barack Obama has never led anything." -- Former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani, in a speech to the convention.

"I'm sorry that Barack Obama feels that her home town isn't cosmopolitan enough. I'm sorry Barack that it isn't flashy enough. Maybe they cling to religion there." -- Giuliani's speech.

"Senator McCain was the candidate most associated with the surge. And it was unpopular. What do you think most other candidates would have done in that situation? They would have acted in their own self-interest by changing their position. How many times have we seen Barack Obama do that? ... "I hope for his sake, Joe Biden got that VP thing in writing." Giuliani's speech.

"Maybe the most dangerous threat of an Obama presidency is that he would continue to give madmen the benefit of the doubt. If he's wrong just once, we will pay a heavy price." -- Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee in an address to the convention.

"If America really wants to change, it's time to look for the sun in the West because it's about to rise and shine from Arizona and Alaska." -- Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney in a speech to the convention, referring to the home states of McCain and Palin.

(Compiled by Patricia Zengerle and Rick Cowan in St. Paul and JoAnne Allen in Washington, editing by Howard Goller and Jackie Frank)