---

In accepting his party's presidential nomination Thursday night, Sen. John McCain said he's prepared to get the country "back on the road to prosperity and peace" in a speech local Republicans in attendance said proved he is the best chance the country has for meaningful change.

Polls show that nearly two thirds of voters believe the country is headed in the wrong direction, leaving both Democrats and Republicans scrambling to convince the public they are the true agents of change.

State Rep. Betty Poirier, R-North Attleboro, a delegate at the Republican National Convention, said McCain's speech did just that.

"He's always been the one calling for improvement and making changes," she said. "He's going to demand that things be done for the American people."

State Rep. Jay Barrows, R-Mansfield, who also served as a convention delegate, said Thursday's speech helped to show the differences between McCain and his Democratic opponent, Sen. Barack Obama. "This wasn't show business, this was real business," Barrows said, referencing Obama's acceptance speech last week, which took place in front of an estimated 84,000 Democrats.

"This was smaller. It felt as though he was talking right to us," he said.

McCain's speech concluded the Republican National Convention where he was portrayed as "the original maverick" who is courageous enough to take on special interests in Washington. His running mate, Gov. Sarah Palin of Alaska, was labeled an outsider and reformer.

Convention delegate Danielle Fish of Mansfield, a member of the Republican State Committee, said McCain and Palin presented a "team approach" that will "challenge the status quo in Washington."

She said they are willing to put partisanship aside and put "country first" in addressing problems, although many Republicans do not believe "we are completely on the wrong track."

Democrats counter that Obama is the one who can change the country with his economic policies to boost jobs, health care and education.

They question how Republicans can change Washington when they are the ones who controlled the White House for the past eight years.

"I agree with Republicans that we need change, but if you vote for John McCain you are voting for a continuation of the last eight years," said U.S. Rep. James McGovern, D-Worcester.

Peter Brock, a Democratic activist from Foxboro, said he did not see the bipartisanship that Republicans said they were offering. Speakers at the Republican convention, especially Palin, seem more interested in bashing Obama than offering solutions, he said.

Barrows disagreed with Brock's assessment, saying the Republicans did not bash their opponents. Poirier added that McCain clearly presented his proposals to delagates. "He laid out his plans, exactly what he's going to do on all facets of the economy," she said. "He did a great job."

One thing both Democrats and Republicans agreed on was that Palin sparked the Republican convention and gave a boost to McCain's chances.

"It was a great speech and it breathed some life into that ticket," McGovern said.

"It was just what our party needed," Fish said.

With the general election about two months away, Barrows said he is optimistic that the Republican Party will be victorious.

"We've got some work to do," he said. "But, hopefully, we're going to be successful going forward."