Obama speech inspires fans, turns off Republicans

'FEEL-GOOD SPEECH'

Bob Lindsey, a business owner in Birmingham, Alabama, picked up on a frequent criticism of Obama -- that little lies behind the candidate's capacity to spin fine words.

"It was a feel-good speech. It made you think about yourself and where you wanted the United States to go. It was just him making you feel good for the purpose of him getting elected," Lindsey said.

Obama put himself on the map when he delivered the keynote address at the Democratic convention in 2004 and his capacity to inspire Democrats with soaring oratory has proved fundamental to his appeal since he launched his bid for the nomination in February 2007.

But soaring oratory has brought its own pressures and one of his challenges was to win over independent voters.

Matthew Steffey, a professor at Mississippi College, said the speech's success was to tap into the economic discontent of voters. "There was great resonance with his criticism of the Bush administration and McCain's support for it," he said.

(Additional reporting by Verna Gates in Birmimghan and Rob Doherty in Denver)

(Editing by Howard Goller)