McCain Tapped into a Deep Vein of Idealism.(John McCain)

Prior to pro-life Sen. John McCain's acceptance speech, I'd called a couple of friends who had been elbow-deep in covering the Republican National Convention. Both were utterly exhausted. Not surprising, for it had been a long week which began with all attention (understandably) being riveted on Hurricane Gustav.

How did all this play out? According to ratings from Nielsen Media Research, McCain's acceptance speech drew more television viewers than Barack Obama attracted at the Democratic Party's national convention. Parenthetically, pro-life Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin's numbers were almost as large as Obama's, even though her speech was broadcast on fewer outlets.

Sen. McCain's speech lacked the soaring lift-off we saw the night before in the stunning national debut of Gov. Palin, hardly a surprise. But what struck meespecially as I watched the speech a second time at 12:30 in the morningwas that while Sen. McCain lacks the charismatic stage presence of his vice presidential running mate, his remarks were received with tremendous enthusiasm by the delegates. Why?

It wasn't simply party loyalty. That wouldn't account for all the standing ovations that interrupted his remarks or the rapt look on their faces.

The audience was glued to his words because of who McCain isa hero and a patriot whose chances of success a year ago were slim to noneand because he tapped into a deep vein of idealism that exists not just in Republicans but all Americans.

Put those two togethera political comeback story ...