McCain's speech was slammed Left and Right (except by Harold Ford). Obama's was given his due, even by those who don't like him.
Andrew Sullivan:
Put McCain's speech against Obama's - and this was a wipe-out. Not a victory. A wipe-out. Rhetorically, they are simply not in the same league. And if the contrast tonight between McCain and Obama holds for the rest of the campaign, McCain is facing a defeat of historic proportions.
One more thing: with McCain's and Clinton's speeches, you could not forget the politics of it. With Obama, you forgot about that at times. You actually lifted your eyes a little and believed a little and hoped a little.
Yes, he can. And anyone who under-estimates that will regret it.
Rolling Stone
Worst. Speech. Ever.
6/3/08, 9:25 pm EST
Good God, John McCain gives bad podium.
It’s like watching the out-takes from an Andy Rooney kvetch.
UPDATE:
The cruel reviews are coming in even from Fox:
MORT KONDRACKE: Well, John McCain had better start working on his speechmaking and learn how to use a teleprompter. I mean, the gap, the rhetorical gap between this speech and...Oratorical gap between this speech and John McCain’s was vast. John McCain sounded old. This sounded fresh and new and exciting and visionary. And he was enlisting the country to join him in a great cause. This is our moment, all of that.
National Review Online
McCain's Speech [Amy Holmes]
McCain's speech was creaky, ungracious, and unnecessary. I never understand why politicians don't take the opportunity, when so easily presented, to simply be gracious and hold their fire. Watching McCain, I couldn't help but think of the astonishing contrast Barack's triumphant speech to a massive and adoring crowd will be. It was not a comparison McCain should have invited.
It would have been more statesmanlike ‹ precisely the profile McCain is attempting to craft ‹ to acknowledge this historic moment in American politics. A major party is on the cusp of selecting an African American to be their nominee for President of the United States. It's a tribute to America that we've come this far. It would have been magnanimous to leave it at that, and wait until tomorrow to declare with enthusiasm and relish, "It's on!"
NRO [Lisa Schiffren]
Bill Kristol was totally explicit about it: "If the election is about speeches, Obama wins. If it's about a record of service, McCain wins." (paraphrase) It will be interesting, and painful to watch voters pick their way through that — assuming that McCain doesn't become a more compelling speaker before the next round.
Marc Ambinder
Thoughts About Obama's Speech
03 Jun 2008 10:20 pm
What a different emotional register from John McCain's; Obama seems on the verge of tears; the enormous crowd in the Xcel center seems ready to lift Obama on its shoulders; the much smaller audience for McCain's speech interrupted his remarks with stilted cheers. (Note: there was a large overflow crowd for McCain's speech, and he repeated his remarks for them later in the evening.)
McCain appealed to Clinton supporters based on their resentments, pointing out that the pundits and party elders seemingly anointed Clinton; Obama appeals to them based on their hopes, promising that Clinton would play a major role in securing universal health care.
Obama thanked his grandmother above all else; without her, he said, none of this would have been possible. She is white, of course. The explicit message is obvious. The implicit message: this thing, this event, is much more than just a step for racial equality.
National Post (CA)
McCain's description of Obama an foolishly naive on foreign policy will be a theme repeated over and over in the upcoming weeks, as will his portrayal of the Illinois senator as a big government liberal who thinks he knows more than ordinary Americans.
But some advice for McCain. Find a new image consultant. The Arizona senator kicked off the general election campaign standing alone in front of a green backdrop, barely drawing applause from a crowd that one can only presume was very small and half asleep.
Obama, by contrast, did what Obama does best. There were 20,000 people out to hear him speak, at the same St. Paul, Minn. convention center where Republicans will hold the national convention this September.
He broke new ground and offered no new promises. But the place had energy. For all his problems - and heaven knows, Obama's got plenty - his campaign on this night seemed like the only one with the heartbeat.
If you find 'em, post 'em.