Seattle, WA -

Flanked by a who's who of Washington State Republicans at the Westin Hotel in Seattle, John McCain addressed a ballroom full of supporters this evening. Attorney General Rob McKenna began the event by telling a story of first meeting McCain in Washington, DC years ago and was astounded to find that McCain was asking him questions about the changes he wanted to see in Washington.

McKenna also talked about a passage from the Arizona Senator's book, Faith of My Fathers, that "nothing is more liberating than fighting for a cause larger than yourself." It turned out to be a recurring theme for the night. He then lauded McCain's honesty in the face of voters, and suggested that in McCain, voters get experience and inspiration. "No compromise is necessary on our side of the aisle," he said in a reference to the battle for the Democratic nomination. "We have John McCain as our candidate for President."

Slade Gorton took the microphone next extolling that, "character, courage, conviction and conservatism are the qualities John McCain brought back from the Navy and Vietnam and with which he entered politics. They are qualities he has honed for over 25 years and they are what he will bring to the White House."

McCain thanked Gorton and McKenna for their support, as well as newly minted supporter Dave Reichert, Ralph Munro, Luke Esser and Dan Evans, all of whom were in attendance. After a few jokes to break the ice about Arizona's dry climate, and even a bawdy one about Zsa Zsa Gabor's fifth husband, McCain told the audience it was time for a little straight talk, evoking his famous campaign persona.

"We're doing very well," McCain said of the nomination process, "but it's not over. We need to get out our vote tomorrow." He then mentioned his two closest rivals of late, Huckabee and Romney, and spoke of them in friendly terms, even citing a good natured telephone conversation he had with the Massachusetts governor earlier in the week.

Later in the evening he took a similar approach as he urged voters to caucus for him tomorrow, mentioning his good friend Fred Thompson by name in an attempt to unite the party that is now so close to a certain nominee.

McCain also spoke to his general election allure, especially here in Washington.

"My friends," he assured the crowd, "I am a Western Senator. I know the issues. I will compete and win in the state of Washington. I understand what a vibrant place this is and how important it is to our nation's economy."

This last line worked as a link to a discussion of GOP platform issues, including his promises to lower taxes, create a smaller government and reduce barriers to trade.

Referring to the recent stimulus package passed by the Senate McCain said, "when people spends money its good for America. But when government spends money it is bad for America."

On that theme of spending reduction McCain then claimed, "I will veto every single earmark that comes to my desk."

He then asked all veterans in the audience to raise their hands, gave pause for a moment to allow the audience to acknowledge their presence, and launched into the idea that America needs to treat its veterans better, especially in the face of what he believed would be a long war ahead with Islamic extremists.

"I'm running because I know the greatest threat is Radical Muslim extremism," he told the crowd. "My friends, this is an evil and it is transcendent."

"I look you in the eyes," he went on, "and I tell you I will get Osama bin Laden."

The crowd roared in approval, as McCain winked and gave thumbs up.

The Arizona Senator continued to talk about the conflict in the Middle East.

"If we set a date for withdrawal then we will lose that conflict; and al Qaeda will tell the world that they defeated the USA. We will never surrender, they will."

McCain also heaped praise on Gen. David Petraeus, arguing that he, not Vladimir Putin, should have been chosen as Time's Man of the Year for 2007. Furthermore, he suggested that only Petraeus, and not some politician seeking higher office, should have the authority to end the war in Iraq.

Despite the serious tone McCain took to lay out his belief in what he saw to be America's most serious issue, the struggle against what he called radical Islamic extremism, he ended on much more optimistic note.

Invoking President Ronald Reagan McCain predicted, "America's best days are in front of us. With your help tomorrow moving us along the path to the nomination, I will inspire another generations and I will emulate the belief that we are the noblest experiment in the history of the world and we will remain a shining city on a hill."