Which McCain Will Talk Money Tomorrow?

John McCain's third speech in three weeks on the economy tomorrow will be an opportunity for him to clarify the tone and theme of his fiscal policies.

Though McCain did not change his position, he certainly changed his tone, so much so that a a comparison of the two speeches, side by side, is bound to produce some whiplash. Conservatives who praised McCain in March were quick to condemn him in April.

McCain's first speech, (3/25) in which he struck a classic modern conservative pose, had this as a most memorable line....

I have always been committed to the principle that it is not the duty of government to bail out and reward those who act irresponsibly, whether they are big banks or small borrowers. Government assistance to the banking system should be based solely on preventing systemic risk that would endanger the entire financial system and the economy.

Its composition was heavily influenced by former Sen. Phil Gramm, an economist.

McCain's second speech, widely seen as more... human... was written with the major contribution of chief policy adviser Douglas Holtz-Eakin.

There is nothing more important than keeping alive the American dream to own your home, and priority number one is to keep well meaning, deserving home owners who are facing foreclosure in their homes.

Tomorrow's speech, according to aides, is a collaborate effort.

"They are all joint efforts," writes Jill Hazelbaker, a McCain spokesperson, in an e-mail. "Sometimes one person has more input or writes a longer section, but they are all the product of lengthy group discussions."