Our Opinion: Now the real campaign begins
Sunday, September 7, 2008 12:32 AM PDT
One thing was clear after Republican presidential candidate John McCain finished his speech Thursday night at the GOP convention in Minnesota: The race for the top political slot in America may be far closer than people believe. That’s because both Barack Obama, the Democratic candidate for president, and McCain laid out two separate and, for many, appealing roads for voters.
Both McCain and Obama appeared to be at their best at the separate conventions. Obama spread the word of hope to more than 70,000 in a stadium in Denver last week. Thursday, McCain effectively came across as someone with the know-how and dedication to make political reform a reality and not as just another sound bite.
Too many political pundits have dismissed McCain during the past two years. Then the Arizona senator dominated the primary race and collected the Republican nomination for president.
That shows not only a certain amount of grit but also genuine political skill.
The conventions are over. Now begins the heart and soul of the presidential campaign, a political crusade by both men stretched over the months of September and October.
This is going to be another close race, no matter what the pundits say.
Judging by Thursday’s convention speech, John McCain is not going to be a pushover.
Obama will not be either.
That means good things for voters. And it means a good, robust debate regarding two different men and two different political outlooks. Let the political sparring begin.
