At the Republican National Convention held on Thursday night, Cindy McCain was all praise for her husband in a speech, in which she vouched for his characteristics of a straight talker and a father, who by example has passed on his love of country and values to his children.

"It's going to take someone of unusual strength and character — someone exactly like my husband — to lead us through the reefs and currents that lie ahead. I know John. You can trust his hand at the wheel," McCain said.

"If Americans want straight talk and the plain truth, they should take a good close look at John McCain," she said. He has "served in Washington without ever becoming a Washington insider" and "always speaks the truth no matter what the cost", she added.

Cindy McCain also praised her husband’s choice of running mate. She received huge applause from the gathering when she said that she believes "it's a good idea to have a woman's hand on the wheel as well."

"John has picked a reform-minded, hockey-mommin', basketball shootin', moose huntin', salmon-fishin', pistol-packing, mother of five for vice president," she said. "And as a fellow hockey mom myself and a western conservative mother, I couldn't be prouder that John has shaken things up as he usually does."