St. PAUL, Minnesota (CNN) - Cindy McCain praised her husband, Republican presidential nominee John McCain, as "someone of unusual strength and character" in a speech to the Republican National Convention on Thursday.
"You can trust his hand at the wheel," she said, adding: "But you know what - I've always thought it's a good idea to have a woman's hand on the wheel as well. So how about Gov. Sarah Palin!" Delegates erupted in cheers at the mention of McCain's running mate, the governor of Alaska.
Cindy McCain said her husband's run for the White House "is not about us. It's about our special and exceptional country."
She called Americans the most generous people in history, and said "our hearts are still alive with hope and belief in our individual ability to make things right if only the federal government would get itself under control and out of our way," prompting cheers from the delegates.
ST. PAUL, Minnesota (CNN) - Cindy McCain is delivering an oddly partisan speech -– it goes from humanitarianism to partisanship in the blink of an eye. It’s an unusually partisan and ideological speech from a prospective first lady.
Watch: Cindy McCain describes her husband as a source of 'strength' and 'inspiration'
She is making a positive case for her husband too: the idea is to reclaim his image as a maverick from 2000.
They do have a lovely and impressive family –- an undeniable political asset.
(CNN)–Cindy McCain is giving a long, personal speech - as did Michelle Obama. And she's doing a fine job, as did Michelle.
I don't think even Hillary Clinton gave such a long and substantial speech on behalf of her husband in 1992. We have entered a new era in politics, and Michelle and Cindy are a big part of it.
Watch: Cindy McCain's entire speech Thursday
I will note that Democrats have not attacked Cindy the way Republicans have attacked Michelle. Even mild-mannered Mitt Romney bitterly and unfairly attacked Michelle last night.
Attacking the wife is clearly a Republican thing - recall how Bush supporters smeared Cindy McCain during the 2000 South Carolina primary, then how they bitterly attacked Teresa Heinz Kerry in 2004. It's a classic double standard and a typical Republican philosophy: do as I say, not as I do.
CINDY MCCAIN: Thank you everyone.
John and I are so proud of them and so happy to have them here with us tonight.
Nothing has made me happier or more fulfilled in my life than being a mother.
But while John and I take great joy in having been able to spend time together this week as a family, our hearts go out to the thousands of families who have had to leave their homes once again due to devastating weather.
It is not only our natural instinct to rally to them, to lift them up with our prayers and come to their aid, it is also our duty to our country.
(CNN) – The Republican National committee has released excperts of Cindy McCain's speech Thursday night:
On Americans' duty to their country:
"That duty is what brings me before you tonight. And it's much larger and more important than just me or John or any of us: It's the work of this great country calling us together – and there is no greater duty than that, no more essential task for our generation - right now."
On John McCain's character:
"It's going to take someone of unusual strength and character – someone exactly like my husband – to lead us through the reefs and currents that lie ahead. I know John. You can trust his hand at the wheel."
Prospective VP nominee Sarah Palin, first lady Laura Bush and Cindy McCain met in Minneapolis, Minnesota Tuesday. (Photo credit: McCain campaign)
(CNN) - First Lady Laura Bush and Cindy McCain addressed the Republican National Convention Monday evening, delivering abbreviated remarks due to Hurricane Gustav.
Watch: "We are all Americans," says Mrs. Bush
George and I were planning to come to enjoy this convention to have a really good time," Laura Bush said. "And we would have been here tonight speaking, but, of course as we all know, events on the Gulf Coast region have changed the focus of our attention. And our first priority now, today, is to ensure the safety and the well-being of those living in the gulf coast region.
Joining Bush on stage after a video message from four governors of states affected by the storm, Cindy McCain, wife of presumptive Republican presidential nominee John McCain, urged delegates to help with hurricane relief.
Watch: Cindy McCain calls for hurricane aid
"I would ask that each one of us commit to join together to aid those in need as quickly as possible," she said. "As John has been saying for the last several days, this is a time when we take off our Republican hats and put on our American hats."
ST. PAUL, Minnesota (CNN) – Cindy McCain and first lady Laura Bush will appear before the Republican convention Monday to encourage people to donate to the relief efforts in the Gulf region, a senior McCain campaign official told reporters in a conference call.
Watch: Cindy McCain and Laura Bush meet some delegates
Republican officials have dramatically scaled back the first day of the convention as Hurricane Gustav slammed into the Louisiana coast. In addition to Bush and McCain appearances, the convention will perform the bare bones official business needed to start the convention. Rick Davis, John McCain’s campaign manager, emphasized that all political activity will be suspended for the time being.
“We hope to regain our schedule at some point,” Davis said.
Davis also said that Target and FedEx will help convention attendees and the Red Cross send care packages to the Gulf region. Later in the week, delegates, staff and other volunteers will meet in Minneapolis to assemble the care packages. In addition, the McCain campaign is setting up a phone bank in the Hilton Hotel in Minneapolis to raise money for Gulf Coast charities.
ST. PAUL, Minnesota (CNN) - A White House official says first lady Laura Bush and Cindy McCain will speak briefly from the podium at the Republican convention tonight, urging delegates and television viewers to help hurricane victims. Mrs. Bush herself said at a Louisiana delegation breakfast Monday morning that she will give a speech tonight, and noted she will talk a bit about what a terrific first lady Cindy McCain will make. The Republican National Committee will reveal more details within the next hour.
(CNN) – Cindy McCain told an interviewer that she was "offended by Barack Obama" and other Democrats who have been hammering her husband John McCain for being unable to immediately answer a question about how many homes he owns.
"I'm offended by Barack Obama saying that about my husband," she told ABC News in an interview set to air Sunday. Asked if she thought Obama had gone too far in his criticism, she said "I do. I do. I really do."
McCain - whose net worth has been estimated at around $100 million - said her father was a self-made man. "My father had nothing. He and my mother sold everything they had to raise $10,000," she said. "I'm proud of what my dad and my mother did and what they built and left me. And I intend to carry their legacy as long as I can."
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