Republican presidential and vice-presidential nominees Sen. John McCain of Arizona and Gov. Sarah Palin of Alaska have largely succeeded in generating enthusiasm among Republican faithful at the St. Paul, Minn. Convention. To win this fall, they must promote a vision that will be persuasive with the electorate as a whole.

            Both candidates’ acceptance speeches generated very favorable reactions in the convention hall, reflected at times in visible emotional waves. McCain, not generally an inspiring orator, ratcheted up his rhetoric in his Thursday acceptance speech. The address included very emotional reference to the torture and pain he experienced as a prisoner of war in Hanoi during the Vietnam War. National newcomer Palin proved exceptionally effective at establishing rhetorical rapport with delegates in her address on Wednesday.

            McCain has been a loyal supporter of the Bush administration on the Iraq war but is also famous as a Republican maverick. Several times in his speech, he criticized people who go to Washington and become captives of “the special interests”. Unpopularity of the Republican Bush administration was reflected in Democratic gains in both houses of Congress in the 2006 elections. McCain was very explicit that Republicans bear responsibility for the problems in Washington.

            Palin before this week was not well known outside of Alaska, and has become quickly defined as very conservative. She is a strong advocate of gun rights and opponent of abortion as well as a fundamentalist Christian. As partner on the ticket, she can strengthen McCain’s standing with evangelicals and other extreme conservatives.

            McCain has differed with the White House and the Republican right on a range of issues. Early in the Bush administration, he opposed tax cuts unless accompanied by spending restraint. He also favors certain forms of stem cell research, while generally opposing abortion.

            The Republican platform acknowledges but does not emphasize climate change, while McCain for some time has given a high priority to energy and environmental concerns. In contrast to the laissez-faire approach of many conservatives, he has advocated government initiatives to develop nuclear power and use market-oriented trading to limit pollution.

            McCain independence has also been apparent in bipartisan efforts on such concerns as campaign finance and immigration reforms, where his political partners  have included respectively Democratic Senators Russ Feingold of Wisconsin and Edward Kennedy of Massachusetts. Emphasis in his speech on the priority of education also relates directly to a strong bipartisan continuing Congressional effort.

            Considerable public and media attention is devoted to convention acceptance speeches at the time of delivery, but generally they do not endure. One exception is Pres. Franklin D. Roosevelt’s speech at the 1932 Democratic convention in Chicago, which included the very memorable statement that their generation had “a rendezvous with destiny”.  FDR’s speech is superb but also was delivered against the backdrop of very severe national economic crisis.

            A much more typical example is John F. Kennedy’s acceptance speech at the 1960 Democratic convention. The event was held in the enormous outdoor Los Angeles Coliseum. The Democratic Obama campaign has drawn parallels with their man’s similar appearance in the fresh air of Denver.

            In fact, at the time Kennedy’s presentation was considered unimpressive, in part because staging and the television technology of the era conspired to diminish his impact. Some believe this helped persuade Republican nominee Richard M. Nixon to accept the Kennedy camp’s challenge to have television debates, and four were held.

            Since then, television debates between candidates for the White House have become extremely important. After the first 1980 encounter between Pres. Jimmy Carter and Republican challenger Ronald Reagan, the latter enjoyed a rapid boost in poll ratings. By contrast, in 1960 lagging JFK did not suddenly gain on Nixon after their first debate. Rather, the debates over time significantly evened the race.

            Notable vice presidential debates include 1988. Republican Dan Quayle had an uncertain style and fondness for comparing himself to JFK. Skilled Democratic debater Lloyd Bentsen seized the opening to describe Quayle as “no Jack Kennedy”. The Republicans still won the White House, but new President George H.W. Bush and his running mate were weakened.

            The campaign this fall will include three presidential debates, the first at the University of Mississippi on September 26, and one vice-presidential debate. McCain ended his speech with a dramatic appeal to national unity. The debates challenge candidates to buck up partisans while simultaneously reaching out to the rest of the electorate.

Arthur I. Cyr is Clausen Distinguished Professor at Carthage College and author of “After the Cold War” (NYU Press and Palgrave/Macmillan). He can be reached at acyr@carthage.edu