No divided party in Saint Paul. It was one long standing ovation for John McCain as he became the Republican presidential nominee.
"Tonight, I have a privilege given few Americans, the privilege of accepting our party's nomination for President of the United States," said McCain.
In a call for bipartisanship, John McCain said he had respect and admiration for Barack Obama.
"And I wouldn't be an American worth of the name, if I didn't honor Senator Obama and his supporters for their achievement, but let there be no doubt my friends. We're going to win this election," said McCain.
He joked about his maverick reputation, but said it came from knowing who he works for.
"I don't work for special interests. I don't work for myself. I work for you," said McCain.
He said he doesn't mind a good fight, but what was important was what you fought for.
"And when the pundits said my campaign was finished, I said, 'I'd rather lose an election than see my country lose a war,'" said McCain.
John McCain spoke of Republican values and of his party's failings.
"We lost their trust when we valued our power over our principles. We're going to change that," said McCain.
It was not a speech for details about how he will accomplish his goals.
"We will drill new wells offshore and we'll drill them now," said McCain.
It was a speech designed to rouse emotions, capped off by his personal story of conversion as a prisoner of war.
"I fell in love with my country when I was a prisoner in someone else's," said McCain. "I loved it because I was not just a place but an idea, a cause worth fighting for. I was never the same again. I wasn't my own man any more, I was my country's."
"I thought he was very gracious to Barack Obama and welcomed everyone into the Republican tent and I thought he did a really, really nice job," said Meg Whitman, former eBay CEO.
"Fabulous! I have almost no words at this point, I'm so excited. I've already had tears," said Patty Bloomfield, from Manhattan Beach, California.
"He let the people know who he is today and that's exactly what he needed to do. He came though big time," said Robert Laurie, of Placerville, California.
"And I loved when he talked about energy independence and saving our natural resources for our children. That's what I was hoping to hear form the next President of the United States," said Jill Buck from Pleasanton.
McCain and Palin were on a plane headed for Milwaukee after the convention, ready to start the last two months of the campaign. McCain said he and Barack Obama will mix it up, they'll go at each other, but that's the nature of politics.
