Transcript of McConnell's speech before RNC

ST. PAUL, Minn. -- Below is the transcript of Sen. Mitch McConnell's (R-Louisville) speech at the Republican National Convention tonight, provided by McConnell's office.

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First, I want to thank everyone here in the Twin Cities and across the country who offered their prayers and resources to the people of the Gulf Coast in their time of need these past days. The spirit of service and sacrifice is alive in America.

That spirit of service is embodied in the career of our nominee. And it is embodied in the career of his running mate, whose record the American people have come to respect and admire.

Sarah Palin is a remarkable woman. And she will make a remarkable Vice President of the United States.

Now I want to acknowledge another remarkable woman -- a woman most people refer to as Madame Secretary, but who I refer to as my wife.

Like so many others before her, Elaine Chao arrived in this country with nothing but her dreams.

She is part of a glorious tradition.

In the middle of the last century, thousands of Europeans came to this part of the country searching for a brighter future.

A century earlier, another wave of immigrants landed in the South.

One of them was a man named Hugh Young.

After generations of hardship, Hugh decided to put his family in a ship and sail to Virginia.

Soon, one of his sons would be welcomed onto the staff of George Washington.

One of Hugh Young's grandsons would defend the young Republic in the War of 1812.

Another descendent would fight in the Civil War.

Yet another would marry a man named McCain, whose son was known as Sidney — and whose great grandson will soon be known to the world as the 44th President of the United States.

The McCain's have fought in every American war. They have earned a place of honor in our history. And the Party of Lincoln is honored to nominate John McCain to be our nation's next Commander in Chief.

Many words have been spoken in the course of this long campaign. Yet we would have to wait even longer to hear John McCain say much about his own heroism.

Others have spoken about his courage and devotion, and the years spent in a barren prison cell.

Others have talked about the offer of early release, and of his refusal.

These heroic deeds are not the only reason to vote for John McCain. But they tell us important things about the man. Because when the crowds fall silent, and the teleprompters are rolled away, what is left is character, proven character. In the end, this is what matters most.

They say the measure of a man is what he does when none are looking.

And in nearly six years of anguish, John McCain kept faith with his fellow prisoners. He honored the code. He put aside his own good for others.

And I guarantee you this: he will do the same as President.