I agree with Mona. It was quite well done. It made a case for himself as an outsider and reformer; included notes pleasing to a general-election electorate without saying anything to alienate his own party; hit the president hard on national security; and indicated his spirited willingness to mix it up and fight for the nomination. Despite Bush’s weakness as a podium speaker, it was also reasonably well-delivered and got a lift from the boisterous crowd.

The story of his campaign so far, though, has been the head-winds he’s encountered. I discuss them in my column today.