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By day two, things were looking bleak for the Republicans in St. Paul. Then came the star power of Sarah Palin

ST. PAUL, Minn. -- Preaching a message of bipartisanship and insisting he's the man to throw the "me-first, country-second" crowd out of Washington, a buoyant John McCain steered his Straight Talk Express into its biggest berth ever Thursday night -- the Republican nomination for president.

Tonight Theme: Country First: Peace. Headline speaker: Sen. John McCain, accepting the nomination.

UPDATED AT 11:30 P.M.: ST. PAUL, Minn. -- A buoyant John McCain steered his Straight Talk Express into its biggest berth ever Thursday night -- the Republican nomination for president.

Sen. John McCain will officially become the Republican nominee Thursday, despite his at times rocky relationship with the party. Though McCain has adopted a more conservative game plan of late, he's still willing to call an audible now and then.

Unlike the Republican candidate for president, Arizona's other senator is generally most comfortable working behind the scenes. But Jon Kyl has put himself close to the spotlight at both of this summer's political conventions while working overtime to drum up enthusiasm for his home state colleague, John McCain.

John McCain stands at the pinnacle of a career defined by a singular ambivalence about his own ambition.

"It's not like, 'Oh gosh, my guy didn't make it so I'll back McCain. I'm proud to back John McCain. I'm not sure anyone's conservative enough for some of the party."

Three erstwhile rivals of John McCain ignited the Republican National Convention on Wednesday as they touted the Arizona senator and attacked Barack Obama, characterizing the Democratic presidential nominee as a flashy newcomer unprepared to lead.

ST. PAUL, MINN. - Republican John McCain's primary campaign almost collapsed last year under the weight of opponents' attacks that he backed "amnesty" for illegal immigrants.

ST. PAUL, Minn. | As John McCain prepares to accept his party’s presidential nomination, Republicans here are arguing that their candidate isn’t too Republican.

When John McCain formally claims the Republican presidential nomination in St. Paul tonight, he'll begin navigating one of the most challenging political environments of any White House aspirant. Yet, with exactly two months until Election Day, the 72-year-old aviator has enough ammunition to wage an effective battle.

Claiming her historic spot on the Republican ticket, vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin mocked Barack Obama's experience and promise of change Wednesday night and pledged to help John McCain upend the Washington establishment.

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John Sidney McCain III stands at the pinnacle of a career defined by a singular ambivalence about his own ambition, and success.

Claiming her historic place on the Republican ticket, vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin mocked Barack Obama's experience and promise of change Wednesday night and pledged to help John McCain upend the Washington establishment.

Sen. John McCain arrived in the Republican National Convention city to collect the prize of a political lifetime Wednesday, insisting that running mate Sarah Palin was ready to be commander in chief after less than two years as governor of Alaska.

Sen. John McCain arrived in the Republican National Convention city to collect the prize of a political lifetime Wednesday, while his campaign said critics were out to destroy Sarah Palin, the first female running mate in party history.

Major speakers scheduled for Wednesday's session of the Republican National Convention. Sen. John McCain of Arizona is set to become the party's presidential nominee.

[ST. PAUL - Sen. John McCain wasn't Perry Nouis' first choice for president but the Little Falls businessman is enthusiastically supporting him now.