McCain accepts Republican nomination

St Paul: Republican John McCain cast himself as an independent-minded reformer on Thursday, vowed "change is coming" if he is elected president and promised to create millions of jobs by developing new energy sources.

"We will attack the problem on every front. We will produce more energy at home," he said in a speech to the Republican National Convention.

McCain accepted his party's presidential nomination in a packed convention hall, insisting he can pull off the kind of change that Democrat Barack Obama talks about in a year Americans are hungry for new leadership.

In a rousing conclusion to his 48-minute address, McCain was nearly drowned out by cheers from the crowd when he vowed to fight for Americans if they elect him over Obama on Nov. 4.

"Stand up, stand up, stand up and fight. Nothing is inevitable here. We're Americans, and we never give up. We never quit. We never hide from history. We make history," he said.

The 72-year-old Arizona senator, who bears the scars of 5-1/2 years as a Vietnam prisoner of war, launched a two-month campaign to win the White House, entering the push to Election Day as the underdog with most polls showing Obama ahead.

He said he admired Obama but that they had big differences and told his supporters, "We're going to win this election."

"Let me offer an advance warning to the old, big spending, do-nothing, me-first, country-second Washington crowd: change is coming," McCain said.

McCain, portrayed as no different than unpopular President George W. Bush by Obama and the Democrats, tried to reclaim his image as a Republican maverick in hopes of attracting independent voters likely to be key to the election.

He promised he would bring Democrats and independents into his government if he won.