John McCain will reinforce his “maverick” image and encourage bipartisan cooperation when he addresses the Republican convention tonight, the Minneapolis Star Tribune reports. The speech will describe “where, how and why he wants to lead the country," his speechwriter said. The arena setup has been reconfigured for Mac’s address, giving him a fashion-style runway that will put him closer to the audience.
The runway will give McCain’s address the feel of town-hall style meetings, his favored method of interacting with the public. "John McCain likes to be in and around people," his campaign manager said. "I think this gives John a unique ability to position himself around the people he likes to be with." (More John McCain stories.)