Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
News
McCain Officially Nominated, But Palin Steals the Show
By
Jen Chung
Published Sep 4, 2008
Modified Sep 4, 2008
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
Gothamist
View all 11
By
Jen Chung
Published Sep 4, 2008
Modified Sep 4, 2008
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Senator John McCain was officially nominated as the presidential candidate of the Republican party last night, but his running mate Sarah Palin took the convention hall by storm. The Governor of Alaska addressed the crowd and energized them by introducing herself and her family--and aggressively attacking Barack Obama:
Before I became governor of the great state of Alaska, I was mayor of my hometown. And since our opponents in this presidential election seem to look down on that experience, let me explain to them what the job involves. I guess a small-town mayor is sort of like a ‘community organizer,’ except that you have actual responsibilities.
...We tend to prefer candidates who don't talk about us one way in Scranton and another way in San Francisco.
She also slammed the media, stressed off-shore drilling, and spoke to McCain's experience. Here's a transcript and video is below.
Former NYC mayor Rudy Giuliani also "brought delegates to their feet repeatedly" with his pointed attacks on Obama. He said, “Barack Obama has never led anything. Nothing. Nada. So, our opponents want to reframe the debate. They would have you believe that this election is about ‘change versus more of the same.’ But that’s really a false choice. Because ‘change’ is not a destination ... just as ‘hope’ is not a strategy.”
Giuliani also boldly referred to disgraced former police commissioner Bernard Kerik, when recalling September 11, 2001, "Without really thinking, based on just emotion, spontaneous, I grabbed the arm of then-Police Commissioner Bernard Kerik, and I said to him, ‘Bernie, thank God George Bush is our president.’” Here's a transcript and video is below.
Democrats fired back, with strategists calling her speech "snide" and noted a lack of ideas about the economy. Obama's spokesman Bill Burton issued a statement:
"The speech that Gov. Palin gave was well delivered, but it was written by George Bush’s speechwriter and sounds exactly like the same divisive, partisan attacks we’ve heard from George Bush for the last eight years. If Gov. Palin and John McCain want to define ‘change’ as voting with George Bush 90 percent of the time, that’s their choice, but we don’t think the American people are ready to take a 10 percent chance on change."
Tonight will be McCain's official acceptance of the nomination.
Palin's speech:
Giuliani's speech:
Tagged
barack obama
john mccain
republican national convention
rudy giuliani
sarah palin
Jen Chung
Jen Chung is a former WNYC and Gothamist editor.
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE news
Forest Hills Stadium can keep its concerts under deal with neighbors
Neighbors had complained of traffic and loud concerts for years.
By
Ryan Kost
Published Oct 22, 2026
NYC Council to grill Mamdani officials on collapsed Hunts Point Produce Market deal
Council Speaker Julie Menin called the $650 million plan "mission critical."
By
Elizabeth Kim
News
NYC Council to grill Mamdani officials on collapsed Hunts Point Produce Market deal
Council Speaker Julie Menin called the $650 million plan "mission critical."
By
Elizabeth Kim
NYPD arrests 17-year-old in fatal Midtown subway platform shooting
By
Charles Lane
Ex-Adams aide accused of pocketing kickbacks from community program funds
By
Samantha Max
MTA to begin 6-year project to upgrade signal tech on A and C lines in Brooklyn and Queens
By
Ramsey Khalifeh
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .