ummmm, making speeches is quite important if it shows you can sway people.It's particularly so if you're able to articulate what a lot of people are feeling.
As I remember, that was how Bush junior first came into the spotlight as a presidential possibility (he'd been governor of Texas, though, and came from a political family). The Republicans were wondering where to go after Clinton was elected; Bush seemed to be able to present their ideals in a way that they thought might persuade the public.