McCain Tried To Overcome Himself In Speech

Darkness had fallen over the city when Sen. John McCain stepped out from the shadow created by his running mate, Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, when she lashed out at the Democrats and the media and intellectual elites the night before. He did so as a man declared politically dead in July 2007 when, facing dismal poll numbers and a campaign bleeding money, he let most of his staff go. Now resurrected, McCain delivered an acceptance speech for the Republican presidential nomination that reinforced his image of the elder statesman from the party in power that would keep America the great power in the world. ...

McCain had a bigger opponent to overcome last night than Obama. He had to overcome himself.

In the past months, McCain stump speeches have taken on angry overtones. He has gone from calling his opponent "naive" on foreign policy to questioning the Illinois senator's patriotic ideals. Last night, however, he showed a graciousness to Obama not seen before, at least by this reporter. Early on, he acknowledged Obama's historic achievement in winning his party's nomination, while promising a fair fight to come.

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