The Duke and the Gov.

What would John Wayne or Audie Murphy have said if they had ever run for President? I think we saw the political equivalent of “Marshal Rooster J. Cogburn” gearing up for his last battle against the enemy of good folks everywhere.

Many of my colleagues have written insightful posts on Senator McCain’s speech last night, so I have decided to skip the message and focus on possible public perception issues for the Republican Party for the last eight weeks of this election cycle.

McCain’s speech was sincere and true to his character but it wasn’t captivating. Compared to Governor Palin’s speech on Wednesday evening, the McCain speech was more circumstance and less pomp. The perception problem for McCain is not going to be how he matches up with Obama; his effectiveness is going to be measured by whether his stability is as engaging as Palin’s intensity.

John McCain’s decision to change the face of the election has been successful. In 2008, the Republican Party has the embodiment of “True Grit” and Annie Oakley on their national ticket. There is only room for one larger than life persona for the public to embrace. Beginning next week, we will see where the attention of the public and the media gravitate. If Sarah Palin is still THE story on October 1st, John McCain will be on his way back to Arizona…riding into the sunset.