Brownback, Graham, Martinez To Speak In Convention Before McCain Accepts Nomination

Washington, D.C. (AHN) - Sens. Sam Brownback (R-KS), Lindsey Graham (R-SC) and Mel Martinez (R-FL) will have important supporting roles Thursday night as Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) accepts the nomination.

Brownback and Martinez are scheduled to speak at about 7 pm ET together with with former Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist and Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty, who was vetted for the vice presidential post. Graham, a campaign surrogate, Cindy McCain and former Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Ridge, a close fried of McCain who was also reportedly vetted for the ticket, will speak just before the Arizona senator delivers his address at 10 pm ET.

McCain has to convince swing voters and assure conservatives Thursday night that his presidency will continue his record of reforms in the Senate while remaining true to fundamental Republican causes.

He has the difficult task of meeting expectations made higher by a rousing 44-minute speech by his running mate, Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, on Wednesday that pundits said was "brilliant." A historic speech before 84,000 people in a football stadium last week by the first African-American candidate of a major party also sets the bar for McCain a little higher.

Changes have been made to help the four-term senator, who is not known for his oratorical prowess, fire up delegates at the Xcel Center in St. Paul. A 30-foot extension to the stage has been added to give a town hall atmosphere in the convention hall, according to the MinnPost. By surrounding McCain with delegates as he speaks, Republicans are obviously hoping to recreate the forum format in which the senator excels in.

Pundits are calling McCain's moment as the GOP's bet for the presidency unlikely, citing the lawmaker's struggling campaign less than a year ago and a conflict-ridden relationship with his party on key issues such as taxes, immigration and earmarks. After a failed first bid for the White House in 2000 on a much more clearer maverick Republican platform, reversals on issues such coastal exploration, and months of using negative attacks he once denounced, McCain now has to send a strong and clear message about his campaign.

His speech writer and close friend, Mark Salter, has told FOX that he will speak about his "record of reform and his plans to change the status quo," and make contrasts between his policy and Sen. Barack Obama's (D-IL). To do this, McCain will surely have to mention the economy - something pundits and Obama have said Republicans have tried to avoid in the first three days of the GOP convention.