ST. PAUL, Minn. – Having comfortably shored up the Republican base with Sarah Palin, John McCain last night returned to his maverick roots – accepting the party’s nomination with an appeal to the moderates and independents outside the party who’ve been the foundation of his political career.
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Touching on a rather sore subject in Republican circles, he boasted of his record of fighting with fellow Republicans just as vigorously as he fights with Democrats.
And, equally incendiary among many conservatives, McCain regaled Republicans with tales of so many of his efforts at reaching across the aisle on thorny issues – which drove his colleagues bonkers.
Campaign-finance reform and legalizing illegal immigrants, just to name a few, are among the most notable efforts that so many Republicans find unforgivable still today.
“Again and again, I’ve worked with members of both parties to fix problems that need to be fixed. That’s how I will govern as president,” McCain promised Republicans.
When he and others last night joked about the names he has been called – some unprintable – they were curses far more commonly lobbed by conservatives and fellow Republicans than Democrats.
And all but guaranteeing a spot in his administration for Democratic-turned-independent Sen. Joe Lieberman, McCain said he would find places in his government for anyone no matter their party affiliation.
“I will ask Democrats and independents to serve with me,” he said. “And my administration will set a new standard for transparency and accountability.”
McCain also scolded his party for the corruption in Congress.
“We were elected to change Washington, and we let Washington change us,” McCain said, repeating a theme common in his campaign speeches.
As unusual as it was for a nomination acceptance speech, it may be McCain’s best chance to face the hurricane-force winds of “change” that drew some 85,000 people into a stadium to see Barack Obama accept his party’s nomination.
Whatever the case, it certainly would not have been possible if he had not picked Palin or some other star of conservatives to placate the right while he played footsie on the left.
churt@nypost.com