George W. Bush has delivered the party from that evil. You could see it in the sparkling eyes of Kitty Murphy, a Pennsylvania flight attendant who sneaked out of the US Airways hospitality suite to watch and applaud Colin Powell address the throng Monday night. She was thrilled to see Powell and others talk about education. Say what you will, critics won't be able to dismiss the party as a refuge for racists and right-wing radicals with any credibility. That's what Bush has done.
Delegates are so grateful they are willing to give the nominee a pass on pivotal issues.
Thus, the aroma of victory wafts through this happy town. They were bone hungry, but now, the hunger has the pleasant feel of anticipation. Imagine the famished gourmet about to dig into the perfect steak. Ask folk what they think the odds of a Dubya victory are, and they'll tell you 65-35, some a little less, some even more. The campaign suits know that winning will be harder than that, and expect to win only by a tight margin.