McCain promises "change" in accepting party nomination (Roundup)

Sep 5, 2008, 0:09 GMT

St Paul, Minnesota - John McCain will tout his record as a reformer and hopes to reclaim the mantle of change from his Democratic opponent in a speech accepting the Republican Party's presidential nomination on Thursday.

'Let me offer an advance warning to the old, big spending, do nothing, me first, country second Washington crowd: change is coming,' McCain will say, according to excerpts of his speech released in advance.

McCain, a 26-year Arizona senator but with a maverick reputation, will sound many of the anti-establishment themes that have been the cornerstone of Democratic rival Barack Obama's campaign for the presidency.

But McCain will argue that he is the one with a proven ability to shake up Washington and bring opposing politicians together, in an attempt to rebuff the arguments of his Democratic opponents that he represents the policies and practices of his unpopular Republican compatriot, President George W Bush.

'The constant partisan rancor that stops us from solving these problems isn't a cause, it's a symptom. It's what happens when people go to Washington to work for themselves and not you,' McCain will say.

'I will reach out my hand to anyone to help me get this country moving again. I have that record and the scars to prove it. Senator Obama does not,' McCain said, alluding to his five years as a prisoner of war in Vietnam.

McCain was to be introduced by his wife Cindy on the final night of the Republican National Convention in St Paul, Minnesota, who would sound the theme heard throughout much of the last three days, that McCain was a reformist and independent thinker.

'If Americans want straight talk and the plain truth they should take a good close look at John McCain ... a man who's served in Washington without ever becoming a Washington insider,' Cindy McCain will say, according to excerpts of her speech.

Tom Ridge, a former Pennsylvania governor and the country's first homeland security secretary after the September 11, 2001, attacks, will describe McCain as a 'warrior who has sometimes stood alone.'

Obama criticized his Republican opponents on Thursday for a series of negative attacks during the convention and too heavy a focus on McCain's personal story as a Vietnam War veteran, while talking little about economic issues.

'They've had a lot to say about me, but they haven't had anything to say about you,' Obama said at a York, Pennsylvania rally.

'You haven't heard a word about how we're going to deal with any aspect of the economy that is affecting you and your pocketbook day- to-day,' he said.

In preparation for McCain's speech, the convention stage was retooled and the podium extended further out into the crowd of thousands of delegates, creating more of a townhall-style gathering, which is famously McCain's favourite type of venue.

McCain's address follows that of his vice presidential candidate, Alaska Governor Sarah Palin, who gave a fiery speech Wednesday night that drew sharp distinctions with Obama and at times ridiculed his lack of experience.

'I've been called worse on the basketball court. It's not that big of a deal,' Obama said of the speech by Palin, who earned the nickname 'Sarah Barracuda' by leading her high school basketball team to a state championship.

Palin, who was a relatively unknown politician from one of the least-populated US states until selected as McCain's running mate last week, addressed delegates in what was seen as a speech to introduce her to Americans.

More than 37 million people watched her convention speech, according to Nielsen Media Research, only abut 1 million less than watched Obama's acceptance speech last week.

It was unclear if McCain's acceptance speech would receive the same ratings. Thursday was also the opening night of the American football season.

Palin also touted herself as a reformist who understands the needs of working class families and said McCain has a track record of getting things done - a shot at Obama's perceived lack of experience. Obama was first elected to the US Senate in 2004.