John McCain absorbs a lot of mockery for his listless crowds in comparison to the candidates, but the University of Florida stadium in Miami last night was plenty enthusiastic and energetic. Several thousand audience members, clad in "Joe" stickers, danced wildly to a marathon performance by Albita, a Grammy winning Cuban musician who sang a raucous jam for what felt like an hour featuring a refrain of "Donde Esta Senor McCain?"

If only every McCain rally were 80% Cuban, the GOP's one and only ethnic constituency.  One thing that has struck me during my time in Florida this week is how much the new campaign theme of anti-socialism has touched a nerve with Cuban Americans. A lot of McCain supporters were wearing t-shirts reading "Cuba got "CHANGE" in 1959" or slogans with similar variations. Anti-communism is their core cause and any whiff of socialism from Obama, real or imagined, provokes a strong response.

"It's very real for these people," one Cuban American attendee told me. "My uncle was killed on an operating table being tortured by Fidel's thugs. When we hear 'socialism' it strikes a real chord."

Making matters difficult for the GOP, however, are signs that young Cuban voters are less loyal to the Republican party. Indeed, I heard reports from audience members of sons, nieces, and cousins arguing with older members of the family over the election.

As for McCain's speech itself, it was not so much a speech as it was a series of buzzwords and phrases. Obama makes a long, flowing argument --- his topics connect from one to the other and he speaks as if he's trying to convince you. McCain rallies the crowd by giving them a set of pre-approved, already established applaush and chant lines -- "Drill Baby Drill!" or "He's running for redistributionist in chief, I'm running for commander in chief!" There's very little binding one sentence to the next.