‘Maverick’ McCain promises change

John McCain accepted the Republican presidential nomination last night, using his sometimes turgid 50-minute speech to promise to shake up Washington - an attempt to convince those voters disillusioned with George Bush's presidency. McCain tried to steal the theme of change from his rival Barack Obama but the Arizona senator, who presented himself as a maverick reformer, failed to match the eloquence of his rival's acceptance speech in Denver. "Let me offer an advance warning to the old, big spending, do nothing, me first, country second Washington crowd: change is coming," he said, declaring that he would take the Republican "back to basics".

Although McCain was given a five-minute standing ovation at the start of his speech and again at the end, the mood seemed somewhat subdued in contrast to the fervour drummed up by his running-mate Sarah Palin's feisty and hard-hitting speech the previous night. And some of the loudest cheers were saved for Palin, when she joined him on stage at the end of the night.

Meanwhile Palin's withering attack on Barack Obama appears to have motivated Democrats, who have given a record $10 million to Obama's campaign in the 24 hours since she made her speech. "I hope she gives a speech every day," said Obama spokesman Bill Burton.