McCain seemed to play 'Good Cop' to VP nominee Sarah Palin's 'Bad Cop' attacks of the night before, as the Arizona Senator repeatedly reached out to Democrats and Independent voters, urging a new brand of cooperative politics in the future.

"We're going to win this election," McCain predicted. "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."

Instead of slamming his Democratic opponents, McCain used simple comparisons, almost a laundry list of issues where he disagreed with Barack Obama and John McCain.

"I will keep taxes low and cut them where I can. My opponent will raise them. I will open new markets to our goods and services. My opponent will close them. I will cut government spending. He will increase it," said McCain.

His speech was clearly nowhere near as inspiring as that of Sarah Palin's on Wednesday evening, but it also did not include the red meat lines that she and others used to draw huge applause. I'm sure that was intended.

The last part of McCain's speech took him through his time as a Prisoner of War during the Vietnam War. If viewers and listeners at home hadn't heard it before, then it most surely opened their eyes and ears to a riveting story that helps explain who McCain is.

McCain recounted how his confinement had changed him and how it defined his goals as well.

"My country saved me. My country saved me, and I cannot forget it. And I will fight for her for as long as I draw breath, so help me God," McCain said to huge applause.

If anyone tries to convince you that McCain was anywhere near as good as Barack Obama last week, don't even listen. He probably didn't even match Joe Biden last week.

But it really didn't matter. McCain's strong suit is not the ability to speak, it's his straight talk message.

Did it get out from this convention? That will be the marker in the polls in coming weeks.

Did the choice of Sarah Palin make a difference in this race? That's a question we still can't answer as yet, but it clearly made a difference in the psyche of Republican delegates here.