By Steve Holland
ST. PAUL (Reuters) - Republican John McCain promisedAmericans on Thursday that "change is coming" to Washington ifhe is elected president on November 4 and he pledged toovercome partisan rancour by working with Democrats.
McCain's campaign released excerpts of his speech acceptinghis party's nomination for president. He was to deliver thespeech at about 10:30 p.m. EDT (3:30 a.m. British time Friday).
"Let me offer an advance warning to the old, big spending,do-nothing, me-first, country-second Washington crowd: changeis coming," McCain said.
McCain was trying to reclaim his image as a Republicanmaverick in the speech and co-opt the message of change offeredby his Democratic rival Barack Obama, as Democrats charge he islittle different from unpopular President George W. Bush.
The Arizona senator was taking the podium at the XcelEnergy Centre in the Minnesota state capital a day after hisvice presidential running mate, Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin,electrified Republicans with a fiery speech criticizingDemocratic opponents Obama and Joe Biden.
McCain bemoaned "the constant partisan rancour that stopsus from solving" America's problems but said he has a record ofreaching across the party aisle, unlike Obama.
"Again and again, I've worked with members of both partiesto fix problems that need to be fixed. That's how I will governas president. I will reach out my hand to anyone to help me getthis country moving again. I have that record and the scars toprove it. Sen. Obama does not," he said.
McCain also talked about his defining experience, the 5 1/2years as a Vietnam prisoner of war, a period in which he saidhe realized how special his own country was.
"I loved it because it was not just a place, but an idea, acause worth fighting for. I was never the same again. I wasn'tmy own man anymore. I was my country's."
For McCain, 72, it is the pinnacle of his career. Longconsidered by many a maverick in his party and distrusted bysome in the conservative base, he will receive the long-soughtnomination to be his party's candidate for the White House.
(Additional reporting by Ellen Wulfhorst, Jeff Mason andCharles Abbott, editing by Jackie Frank)
