McCain and Palin hit the road
Republicans John McCain and Sarah Palin kicked off a two-month battle for the White House on Friday with a promise that "change is coming," a theme co-opted from their Democratic rivals.
Pakistani politicians wind up election campaignMcCain touted his credentials as a reformer and portrayed himself as the real agent of change in the race against Barack Obama as he accepted his party's presidential nomination in an arena filled with supporters waving blue "Country First" signs.
"I don't work for a party. I don't work for a special interest. I don't work for myself. I work for you," McCain said in a speech that included only passing criticisms of Obama after a four-day convention marked by scathing attacks on the Democrat.
"I've fought corruption, and it didn't matter if the culprits were Democrats or Republicans," McCain said as Palin, his new running mate, watched from the stands.
The reception for McCain's remarks was more muted than for Palin's fiery acceptance speech on Wednesday, which directed repeated barbs at Obama and drew roars from the crowd, energizing the party's conservative base.
McCain trails Obama slightly in most national opinion polls as they head into the November 4 presidential election, but he promised the Republican faithful he would win.
"And after we've won, we're going to reach out our hand to any willing patriot, make this government start working for you again, and get this country back on the road to prosperity and peace," McCain said.
McCain and Palin joined their families on stage after the speech as balloons and confetti drifted over the arena.
Outside, police arrested 250 anti-war protesters marching to the venue after using flash grenades and teargas to herd them onto a bridge. Inside, McCain was interrupted several times by anti-war protesters. Police hauled two women out of the arena.
'DON'T BE DIVERTED'
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