John McCain's acceptance speech was a hit with the crowd, but not as exciting or transformational as Obama's or Palin's speeches. McCain, of course, is working under the handicap of his age (although, I thought he looked well rested and strong during the speech), and the fact that he is just not naturally as good making a speech as Obama or Palin. I think the best part was at the end, when McCain told of his personal transformation under the less than tender mercies of his North Vietnamese captors, which led well into his call to arms against the ills and challenges facing the nation.

There is still a great deal of buzzing about the Palin speech, which was seen by almost 40 million people. After my comments yesterday equating Palin to Reagan, I began to wonder if I had overstepped by making the comparison. I feel better about it now that I've read this piece by Michael Reagan, making the same comparison. Peggy Noonan also has some cogent thoughts about Palin and her speech. Rush Limbaugh is so excited he now believes the Conservative movement inside the GOP has a future beyond November, win or lose. Over in the UK, Gerard Baker has this analysis.

What should worry the Democrats are polls like this one, which shows the race a dead heat. With unemployment on the rise, fears of a "financial tsunami" on the horizon, a very unpopular Republican Administration in the White House, this should be a slam dunk for the Democrats. But it's not. They are in trouble.