McCain promises to change US

US Republican candidate John McCain kicked off a two-month battle for the White House with a promise that "change is coming".

Mr McCain touted his credentials as a reformer in the race against Democrat rival Barack Obama as he accepted his party's presidential nomination.

"I don't work for a party. I don't work for a special interest. I don't work for myself. I work for you," Mr McCain said in a speech at the party convention.

"I've fought corruption, and it didn't matter if the culprits were Democrats or Republicans," he added.

"Let me offer an advance warning to the old, big spending, do nothing, me first, country second Washington crowd: change is coming," Mr McCain told the crowds in St Paul, Minnesota.

Mr McCain trails Mr Obama by a small margin in most national opinion polls as they head towards the November 4 presidential election.

But he promised the Republican faithful he would win.

"And after we've won, we're going to reach out our hand to any willing patriot, make this government start working for you again, and get this country back on the road to prosperity and peace," McCain said.

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