There are going to be a lot of debates within the party still — a digging for details, a further hashing out of differences – but John McCain had to get himself in front of conservatives and say that we have differences but that we need to come together. He started that conversation today. He may have used the word “conservative” a bit too much — worrying conservatives that he wants to redefine a movement — but he also made clear that ohe of his top priorities is appealing to moderates and independents and “enlightened democrats.”

I wouldn’t have included the line about “this election is about big things, not small things.” It makes it sound like he wanted to suggest all things he has differences with conservatives on are small. A conservative might respond that the occasional fight over an earmark is small, on the other hand.

But all in all, despite some booing, if John McCain going to be the nominee — which seems clear at this point — this was the right start.