Today’s convention schedule, which begins at 7 p.m. Eastern time, will of course culminate in John McCain’s speech accepting the Republican nomination for president. Before that, the podium is tentatively set to feature a collection of McCain’s closest friends in elective office. They include:
- Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty, a finalist as McCain’s running mate. Playing the dual role of convention host in his home state and dedicated McCain surrogate, self-proclaimed “Sam’s Club Republican” Pawlenty is known to be interested in higher office down the line.
- U.S. Sen. Sam Brownback of Kansas, who vied for the presidential nomination last year before dropping out after a weak performance in a straw poll in Iowa. Brownback has been a McCain emissary to conservative Christians.
- Florida Gov. Charlie Crist, whose timely endorsement of McCain is credited with putting the Arizonan over the top in the crucial Florida primary. Crist has built on the popularity created by his predecessor, Jeb Bush.
- U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, easily McCain’s most trusted sidekick. Graham styles himself as no less a maverick than the nominee himself.
- Then comes McCain, whose record as a speaker is spotty. He notoriously bombed in a Louisiana speech the night Barack Obama clinched the Democratic nomination. But at his best, as at the 1988 Republican National Convention, he can make a crowd literally weep about duty and honor.
