This is John McCain at this best: John McCain at the Al Smith Dinner (part one / part two).  

Make sure you watch both.

What I want to know is where was this man during the rest of the election?  This is who the public needs to see….

Up until yesterday I didn’t really feel any excitement for the election. In the office, and around a majority of my friends, no one had talked about what going on for several months. With Bill Clinton’s speech yesterday evening that seemed to change in roughly a half hour.

First thing I hear, when walking into the office, is how Bill was back. A number of people I ran into were discussing the charisma of Bill and how they miss his public persona. They were waxing historic of days past and how good like supposedly was and as the day progressed a few spoke about watching Barack Obama this evening.

Watching Obama at Investco Field the genuine energy that appeared to be missing is back.  Bill brought it back for the general public, Obama is bringing it back to the Democratic base.

• 8:05: 3 min standing ovation, you can see why he is easy to like
• 8:06: He’s here to support Barack
• 8:07: mentioned Hillary a lot…
• 8:08: Hillary supports should vote for Barack
• 8:08: He’s getting good… questions US leadership in the world, showing rise in costs, burdened military
• 8:10: The next president needs to rebuild the US in the view of the world, guess who is the man for this job
• 8:11: Obama has shown a clear grasp on foreign policy
• 8:13: Obama will HAVE the foreign policy support with Biden… Barack Obama is ready to be president of the United States

(Comment) It’s interesting to see how much Clinton is pounding on foreign policy.

• 8:14: Obama will chose diplomacy first, force second. When he cannot convert a foreign power he will stand up to them. Trying to hit at Iran, maybe? Didn’t sell me
• 8:16: We cannot be strong abroad if we are not strong at home
• 8:17: First true attack on Republicans – this one is on the economy. This will help people remember how “good” the economy was under Clinton

(Comment) They are showing Michelle Obama a lot

• 8:18: “Yes we can” but first we need to elect him
• 8:19: McCain is a great man, great hero but he is just a Republican not an agent of change
• 8:20: Look at what the Republican congress did (he’s listing his accomplishments again, will help people remember yet again)
• 8:21: McCain is more of the same, more “going it alone” and in this case the 3rd time is not the charm
• 8:23: Drawing comparisons between Clinton being to young and inexperienced to Obama (Great line) but it will not work
• 8:24: We see the future in Barack and family, he will lead us away from the division to unity

I could not stand Clinton as a President. He had some great economic success but was terrible on a number of other critical topics. All that aside, watching this today one can see the easy talking, likable “every day”, Bill Clinton.

Vintage Clinton.