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McCain tells convention, nation he'll bring change

(Agencies)
Updated: 2008-09-05 11:43

John McCain, a POW turned political rebel, vowed Thursday night to vanquish the "constant partisan rancor" that grips Washington as he launched his fall campaign for the White House. "Change is coming," he promised the roaring Republican National Convention and a prime-time television audience.

US Republican presidential nominee Sen. John McCain waves to supporters at the 2008 Republican National Convention in St. Paul, Minnesota September 4, 2008. [Agencies]

To repeated cheers from his delegates, McCain criticized fellow Republicans as well as Democratic rival Barack Obama as he reached out to independents and disaffected Democrats.

"We were elected to change Washington, and we let Washington change us," he said of the Republicans who controlled Congress for most of the past 15 years.

As for Obama, he said, "I will keep taxes low and cut them where I can. My opponent will raise them. I will cut government spending. He will increase it."

Before McCain's speech, the climax of the final night of the party convention, delegates awarded the vice presidential nomination to Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, the first female ticketmate in Republican history.

A large image of Republican vice presidential nominee Alaska Governor Sarah Palin appears over the floor of the fourth and final session of the 2008 Republican National Convention in St Paul, Minnesota, September 4, 2008. [Agencies]

"She stands up for what's right and she doesn't let anyone tell her to sit down," McCain said of the woman who has faced intense scrutiny in the week since she was picked.

"And let me offer an advance warning to the old, big-spending, do-nothing, me-first, country-second Washington crowd: Change is coming," McCain declared.

He and Palin were departing their convention city immediately after the Arizona senator's acceptance speech, bound for Wisconsin and an early start on the final weeks of the White House campaign.

McCain, at 72 bidding to become the oldest first-term president, drew a roar from the convention crowd when he walked out onto the stage lighted by a single spotlight. He was introduced by a video that dwelt heavily on his time spent as a prisoner of war in Vietnam and as a member of Congress, hailed for a "faithful unyielding love for America, country first."

Cindy McCain, wife of presidential nominee Sen. John McCain, is escorted by her sons Jimmy (L) and Jack on the podium at the 2008 Republican National Convention in St. Paul, Minnesota September 4, 2008. [Agencies]

 

"USA, USA, USA," chanted the crowd in the hall.

McCain faced a delicate assignment as he formally accepted his party's presidential nomination: presenting his credentials as a reformer willing to take on his own party and stressing his independence from an unpopular President Bush -- all without breaking faith with his Republican base.

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