GOP convention ends with unity emphasis

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Republican presidential and vice-presidential nominees Sen. John McCain of Arizona and Gov. Sarah Palin of Alaska have largely succeeded in generating enthusiasm among Republican faithful at the St. Paul, Minn., convention. To win this fall, they must promote a vision that will be persuasive with the electorate as a whole.Both candidates' acceptance speeches, generated very favorable reactions reflected at times in visible emotional waves in the convention hall. McCain, not generally an inspiring orator, ratcheted up his rhetoric in his Thursday acceptance speech, including very explicit reference to torture he experienced as a prisoner of war in Hanoi during the Vietnam War.He has been a loyal Bush administration backer on Iraq, and his national security credentials were repeatedly emphasized during the convention, but is also a famous maverick. Several times in his speech, he criticized people who go to Washington and become captives of "the special interests". He was very explicit that Republicans bear responsibility for these problems.Early in the Bush administration, he opposed tax cuts unless accompanied by spending restraint. In contrast to the White House, he has given high priority to energy and environmental concerns. Rather than the laissez-faire approach of many conservatives, he advocates public initiatives for nuclear power and market-oriented trading to limit pollution.National newcomer Palin proved exceptionally effective at establishing rhetorical rapport with delegates in her address on Wednesday. She is a strong advocate of gun rights and opponent of abortion as well as a fundamentalist Christian. As partner on the ticket, she can strengthen McCain's standing with evangelicals and other extreme conservatives.Public and media attention focuses on convention acceptance speeches at the time of delivery, but generally they do not endure. One great exception is President Franklin D. Roosevelt's speech at the 1932 Democratic convention in Chicago, which included the very memorable statement that their generation had "a rendezvous with destiny". FDR's speech is superb but also was delivered against the backdrop of very severe national economic crisis.Much more typical is John F. Kennedy's acceptance speech at the 1960 Democratic convention. The event was held in the enormous outdoor Los Angeles Coliseum. The Democratic Obama campaign has drawn parallels with their man's similar appearance in the fresh air of Denver.In fact, at the time Kennedy's presentation was considered unimpressive, in part because staging and the television technology of the era conspired to diminish his impact. Some believe this helped persuade Republican nominee Richard M. Nixon to accept the Kennedy camp's challenge to have television debates, and four were held.Since then, television debates between candidates for the White House have become extremely important. After the first 1980 encounter between President Jimmy Carter and Republican challenger Ronald Reagan, the latter enjoyed a rapid boost in poll ratings. By contrast, in 1960 lagging JFK did not suddenly gain on Nixon after their first debate. Rather, the debates over time significantly evened the race.Notable vice presidential debates include 1988. Republican Dan Quayle had an uncertain style and fondness for comparing himself to JFK. Skilled Democratic debater Lloyd Bentsen seized the opening to describe Quayle as "no Jack Kennedy". The Republicans still won the White House, but new President George H.W. Bush and his running mate were weakened.The campaign this fall will include three presidential debates, the first at the University of Mississippi on September 26, and one vice-presidential debate. McCain ended his speech with a dramatic appeal to national unity. The debates challenge candidates to buck up partisans while simultaneously reaching out to the rest of the electorate.(Arthur I. Cyr is Clausen Distinguished Professor at Carthage College. He can be reached at acyr(at)carthage.edu.)(Distributed by Scripps Howard News Service, http://www.scrippsnews.com)