click on the panel to watch

Will voters look at McCain differently after standing up to the crowd?

Just watch the video above and you’ll see what I believe is a key moment of the campaign and one that will raise respect for John McCain in many quarters irrespective of whether he wins or loses. There’s a good account of it here, as well, on the Time magazine blog.

Facing a crowd who were overwhelming hostile to the black Senator from Illinois McCain says, “I respect Sen. Obama and his accomplishments.” People booed at the mention of his name. McCain, visibly angry, stopped them: “I want EVERYONE to be respectful, and lets make sure we are.”

I think the real John McCain is coming out here and he doesn’t want history to judge his campaign as being racist or based on hate.

It also says, I believe, that some of the nastier attacks that many feared might characterise the closing phase probably will not happen.

It will be interesting to see how he interacts with his opponent in the final debate.

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Mike Smithson