Live-blogging McCain event in Denver

12:16 p.m. > That's all, folks > McCain finishes to a standing ovation. He's shaking hands with some of the 30 people on risers behind him. He's due in Aspen for a 2:10 p.m. meeting with His Holiness the Dalai Lama, spiritual leader of Tibet.

12:12 p.m. > Pitch to Hispanics > "No story better exemplifies the sacrifices Hispanic Americans have made for our country than the story of Roy Benavidez. I have told it before, and this won't be the last time I tell it. All Americans need to hear it. Roy Benavidez was the son of a Texas sharecropper, a seventh grade dropout who suffered the humiliation of being constantly taunted as a 'dumb Mexican.' He grew up to become a master sergeant in the Green Berets, and served in Vietnam."

McCain has been running an ad (that also features Colo. Rep. Tom Tancredo in a reaction shot) extolling the military service of Hispanics. [See below the version with Spanish-language transcription.] A report this week from the Pew Hispanic Center says a poll indicates Hispanics prefer Obama over McCain.

12:07 p.m. > Pitch to veterans > "As President, I will ensure that those who serve today and who have served in the past have access to the highest quality health, mental health and rehabilitative care in the world. I want to promise you the disgrace of Walter Reed will not be forgotten." Last time McCain was in Denver, holding a town hall, he was questioned about not supporting a new expanded G.I. Bill of Rights. He eventually supported a different version that was part of a war-funding bill signed by President Bush.

12:04 p.m. > "Audacity of hopelessness" > Turning the title of Obama's book, "The Audacity of Hope," into a jab against him, McCain says of Obama's war strategy, "We rejected the audacity of hopelessness, and we were right."

12:01 p.m. > Obama responds > As always, the Obama campaign has a rapid response. Here's their take, just e-mailed to reporters. "The American people are looking for a serious debate about the way forward in Iraq and Afghanistan, and angry, false accusations will do nothing to accomplish that goal. Barack Obama and John McCain may differ over our strategy in Iraq, but they are united in their support for our brave troops and their desire to protect this nation. Senator McCain's constant suggestion otherwise is not worthy of the campaign he claimed he would run or the magnitude of the challenges this nation faces," said Obama campaign spokesman Bill Burton.

11:57 a.m. > "We're winning this war" > McCain says conditions have improved in Iraq from a year ago, telling the audience that he made the right choice in supporting the surge and (no surprise) contrasting his position with Sen. Barack Obama. "He would choose to lose in Iraq in hopes of winning in Afghanistan. But had his position been adopted, we would have lost both wars," said McCain.

11:52 a.m. > McCain enters > a standing ovation as McCain takes the stage at the American G.I. Forum National Convention luncheon. The campaign estimates 500 people in the room, though there are at least two tables not full.

11:45 a.m. > Setting the mood > music prior to McCain's appearance at the Grand Hyatt Hotel is the smooth jazz stylings of Diana Krall.

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