McCain's Image as Lackluster Speaker Intact

Last night was John McCain’s big moment at the Republican National Convention. Oratory hasn’t been his strong suit in the past. How were the reactions to his speech?

• McCain bored Michael Tomasky at the UK Guardian, who wonders if he was baiting negative reviews to rile up his base: “I now suspect that the speech was intentionally awful.”

• Time’s Mark Halperin saw a classic McCain performance—steady, if not thrilling: “All in all, he came across as calm, honorable, and dedicated rather than fired up and ready to go.”
• At Politico, Jonathan Martin wonders if McCain was overshadowed by his own VP pick: “I think it's safe to say that after McCain's speech tonight, the talk of the delegates here and among most voters at home will still be about Sarah Palin.”

(More John McCain stories.)