NAACP

Today Sen. McCain spoke at the NAACP conference. Despite being polled at only having 4% of the African-American vote, he went to the convention and spoke to these voters anyway. He was respectful and didn't try to pretend he was anything he isn't. Despite knowing there was no possible way they'd be persuaded to vote for him, the crowd was warm, enthusiastic and packed.

From the speech:

Let me begin with a few words about my opponent. Don't tell him I said this, but he is an impressive fellow in many ways. He has inspired a great many Americans, some of whom had wrongly believed that a political campaign could hold no purpose or meaning for them. His success should make Americans, all Americans, proud. Of course, I would prefer his success not continue quite as long as he hopes . . . Senator Obama talks about making history, and he's made quite a bit of it already . . . Whatever the outcome in November, Senator Obama has achieved a great thing -- for himself and for his country -- and I thank him for it.

This is exactly what you should do when in territory that is not traditionally friendly to you. Don't pretend you're anything you're not. McCain isn't pulling up a chair at the local diner and pretending to like fried chicken, he's not sharing a 40-oz in any photo opps and he sure as hell isn't adopting their slang. He's being himself, and it is appreciated.

Most importantly, he's not slamming the voters he just tried to woo behind their back, a la the infamous "clinging to guns and religion" comment. McCain understands that the American people need a leader, not someone who pretends to be just like them.