No doubt, we made our share of mistakes. In hindsight, the decision to briefly suspend our campaign to help find support for legislation to address the collapse of the global credit system is probably one of them. But the criticism that it was nothing but a stunt that failed is mistaken. The morning of the announcement, senior economic advisors to the campaign impressed on the candidate that failure to pass some rescue package would lead to a disaster of monumental proportions. We were also aware that support for the legislation among House Republicans was virtually non-existent…

And he was there on a stage in Phoenix on the evening of November 4th, with his Marine son safely home from war standing near him, relieved by the welcome report there were fewer Americans killed in Iraq in October than any month since the war began, holding his head up high and bowing to the history so many hoped would be made that night, and thanking God for the privilege of serving his country. Those with eyes to see that John McCain will understand me when I write, I am prouder of him today than I have ever been.