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McCain to offer vision of change McCain to offer vision of change
(about 1 hour later)
John McCain will promise "change is coming", as he sets out his vision for the US presidency at the Republican convention in St Paul, Minnesota.John McCain will promise "change is coming", as he sets out his vision for the US presidency at the Republican convention in St Paul, Minnesota.
Mr McCain is to take the stage to formally accept his party's candidacy for November's presidential election.Mr McCain is to take the stage to formally accept his party's candidacy for November's presidential election.
He will pledge to reach out to anyone "to get this country moving again", according to advance speech excerpts.He will pledge to reach out to anyone "to get this country moving again", according to advance speech excerpts.
The Arizona senator will speak to a convention lifted by an address by his vice-presidential choice, Sarah Palin. His running mate, Sarah Palin, has been formally nominated as the party's first female vice-presidential candidate.
She mixed praise for Mr McCain with stinging attacks against Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama. She becomes only the second woman, the first being Democrat Geraldine Ferraro in 1984, to run for the US vice-presidency.
She mixed praise for Mr McCain with stinging attacks against Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama in a speech on Wednesday night that energised the convention.
Again and again, I've worked with members of both parties to fix problems that need to be fixed John McCainAdvance excerpts of speech In pictures: Convention - Day FourBBC World Service - live blog
Mr McCain, in his speech, will promise change and a bipartisan approach to governing that overcomes the "constant partisan rancour" that prevents politicians resolving problems.Mr McCain, in his speech, will promise change and a bipartisan approach to governing that overcomes the "constant partisan rancour" that prevents politicians resolving problems.
"Let me offer an advance warning to the old, big spending, do nothing, me first, country second Washington crowd: change is coming," he will say."Let me offer an advance warning to the old, big spending, do nothing, me first, country second Washington crowd: change is coming," he will say.
"Again and again, I've worked with members of both parties to fix problems that need to be fixed. That's how I will govern as president.""Again and again, I've worked with members of both parties to fix problems that need to be fixed. That's how I will govern as president."
He will continue: "I have that record and the scars to prove it. Senator Obama does not."He will continue: "I have that record and the scars to prove it. Senator Obama does not."
The much-anticipated speech, scheduled for 2030 (0230 GMT), will bring to a close the party's four-day event.The much-anticipated speech, scheduled for 2030 (0230 GMT), will bring to a close the party's four-day event.
VindicatedVindicated
In a rousing address which delighted the convention, Mrs Palin attacked Mr Obama as having talked of change, but done nothing of substance. In politics, there are some candidates who use change to promote their careers - and then there are those, like John McCain, who use their careers to promote change Alaska Governor Sarah Palin Full text: Sarah PalinAnalysis: Palin hits back href="/1/hi/in_pictures/7597221.stm">In pictures: Convention - Day Four class="" href="/1/hi/in_pictures/7599260.stm">Send us your comments In a rousing address which delighted the convention, Mrs Palin attacked Mr Obama as having talked of change, but done nothing of substance. In politics, there are some candidates who use change to promote their careers - and then there are those, like John McCain, who use their careers to promote change Alaska Governor Sarah Palin Full text: Sarah PalinAnalysis: Palin hits backSend us your comments
She accused him of being more interested in high flown speech-making than acting for real Americans, while she would challenge the status quo and work for the common good.She accused him of being more interested in high flown speech-making than acting for real Americans, while she would challenge the status quo and work for the common good.
The BBC's Jonathan Beale, in Minnesota, says John McCain now has to switch the focus from Sarah Palin to himself - although she may have helped to do that as Mr McCain and the party believe they have now been vindicated in their selection of the Alaskan governor.The BBC's Jonathan Beale, in Minnesota, says John McCain now has to switch the focus from Sarah Palin to himself - although she may have helped to do that as Mr McCain and the party believe they have now been vindicated in their selection of the Alaskan governor.
Our correspondent says Mr McCain will have to underline his policy proposals and flesh out what he would do differently from a Bush administration.Our correspondent says Mr McCain will have to underline his policy proposals and flesh out what he would do differently from a Bush administration.
Smooth delivery
John McCain acknowledged as much when discussing his speech in an interview on US television earlier on Wednesday.John McCain acknowledged as much when discussing his speech in an interview on US television earlier on Wednesday.
"The important thing right now is to tell Americans why I can restore our economy, get them affordable and available health care, a decent education, get these jobs back... and keep our nation secure," he told ABC News."The important thing right now is to tell Americans why I can restore our economy, get them affordable and available health care, a decent education, get these jobs back... and keep our nation secure," he told ABC News.
I wonder if the USA has found its Margaret Thatcher BBC North America editor Justin Webb Read Justin's thoughts in fullI wonder if the USA has found its Margaret Thatcher BBC North America editor Justin Webb Read Justin's thoughts in full
He also said he would refrain from much direct criticism of Mr Obama, despite some harsh put-downs from his rival when addressing his own party convention in Denver last week.He also said he would refrain from much direct criticism of Mr Obama, despite some harsh put-downs from his rival when addressing his own party convention in Denver last week.
With memories of Mr Obama's well-received address before 80,000 people at Invesco Field still fresh, Mr McCain will face inevitable comparisons.With memories of Mr Obama's well-received address before 80,000 people at Invesco Field still fresh, Mr McCain will face inevitable comparisons.
Mr McCain has never been considered a great speaker, said one of his closest aides, Mark Salter, who added that his goal for Mr McCain was simply a smooth delivery.Mr McCain has never been considered a great speaker, said one of his closest aides, Mark Salter, who added that his goal for Mr McCain was simply a smooth delivery.
'Turning point'
In a speech designed to rally the party base, Sarah Palin spoke of her family, including her elder son, who is about to be deployed to Iraq in the US Army, and her younger son, who has Down's Syndrome.
The mother-of-five highlighted her background as a small-town "average hockey mom" and stressed that she was not part of the "Washington elite".
Sarah Palin attacks Barack Obama's presidential campaign
In a salvo directed at media commentators who have questioned her qualifications, she said she was "not going to Washington to seek their good opinion" but to serve the people.
In the run-up to her appearance, media coverage of her suitability as a candidate focused on her inexperience in national politics, an uncompleted ethics inquiry into her conduct in Alaska, and the revelation that her unmarried 17-year-old daughter was pregnant.
Mrs Palin praised the "determination, resolve and sheer guts" of Mr McCain and said she was honoured to help him.
Former Governors Mitt Romney and Mike Huckabee opened the night by hailing Mr McCain and attacking the Democrats.
Mr Romney lauded Mr McCain's national security credentials, saying he was the presidential contender who would defeat "evil" radical Islam.
Mr Huckabee, also a former rival of Mr McCain, described him as "a man with the character and stubborn kind of integrity that we need in a president".
President George W Bush has already strongly endorsed John McCain as the best man to succeed him in the White House.President George W Bush has already strongly endorsed John McCain as the best man to succeed him in the White House.
What are your expectations for McCain's speech? Have you been following all of the Republican convention? What is your reaction as a whole? Tell us your thoughts by filling in the form below.What are your expectations for McCain's speech? Have you been following all of the Republican convention? What is your reaction as a whole? Tell us your thoughts by filling in the form below.
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