Republicans meeting in St Paul have heard powerful endorsements of John McCain's character and experience, warm praise for his controversial running mate Sarah Palin and sharp criticism of Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama, writes Denis Stauntonin St Paul, Minnesota.
On the first full day of their national convention, which had an abbreviated start due to Hurricane Gustav, delegates roared with approval each time Ms Palin’s name was mentioned and cheered every attack on Democrats and the media.
Independent Democratic senator Joe Lieberman, who was Al Gore’s running mate in 2000, said he was supporting Mr McCain “because country matters more than party”. Mr Lieberman drew a sharp contrast between the Republican’s long record of bipartisanship and what he characterised as Mr Obama’s failure to stand up to his own party.
“Both presidential candidates this year talk about changing the culture of Washington, about breaking through the partisan gridlock and special interests that are poisoning our politics. But only one of them has actually done it,” he said.
Mr Lieberman made a direct appeal to Democrats to back Mr McCain, praising the presidency of Bill Clinton and declaring that the Republican candidate had qualities that transcended party.
“Some of you have never voted for a Republican before and in an ordinary election, you probably wouldn’t,” he said.
“But this is no ordinary election, because these are not ordinary times, and John McCain is no ordinary candidate. You may not agree with John McCain on every issue. But you can always count on him to be straight with you about where he stands, and to stand for what he thinks is right regardless of politics. As President, you can count on John McCain to be a restless reformer, who will clean up Washington and get our government working again for you.”
Earlier, former senator and Law and Orderstar Fred Thompson won a rapturous reception with a speech that recounted Mr McCain's experience as a prisoner of war in Vietnam and pouring scorn on Mr Obama.
“The Democrats present a history making nominee for president,” he said.
“History making in that he is the most liberal, most inexperienced nominee to ever run for President.”
As the convention prepares to hear from Ms Palin today, Mr Thompson drew the loudest applause of the evening when he defended the 44-year-old governor against charges that she lacks experience and that she has not been adequately vetted.
“She is from a small town, with small town values, but that’s not good enough for those folks who are attacking her and her family,” he said.
“Some Washington pundits and media big shots are in a frenzy over the selection of a woman who has actually governed rather than just talked a good game on the Sunday talk shows and hit the Washington cocktail circuit. Well, give me a tough Alaskan Governor who has taken on the political establishment in the largest state in the Union — and won — over the beltway business-as-usual crowd any day of the week.”
President George Bush, who cancelled a planned appearance at the convention on Monday because of the hurricane, spoke to delegates last night in a video link from the White House. Mr Bush defended the selection of Ms Palin but identified national security as the most important issue in the election.
“We live in a dangerous world. And we need a president who understands the lessons of September 11, 2001: that to protect America, we must stay on the offense, stop attacks before they happen, and not wait to be hit again. The man we need is John McCain,” he said.
Police used chemical agents and stun grenades against protesters outside the Republican convention for the second night in succession, dispersing demonstrators after police officers said a group appeared to be intent on breaching a fence around the convention centre.