But the biggest truth running through the speech is that France, as Charles Grant has written, is learning the art of "followership" in Europe.

BBC: Germany, France and the ECB

The theme running through the speech was fairness and he pledged to create "a Britain of fair chances for all and fair rules applied to all".

BBC: NEWS | UK | UK Politics | No time for a novice, says Brown

Saturday, two days before the start of the Democratic National Convention, the Illinois senator was scheduled to give his first stump speech with his new running mate.

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