ST. PAUL, Minn. — Not merely a Republican. Not merely a candidate. John McCain cast himself as a leader for all Americans, regardless of party or status.

After several days of Democratic bashing by his supporters, the Arizona senator struck a nonpartisan stance and promised that he wouldn’t be bound by political party in the White House as he accepted his party presidential nomination Thursday before thousands of GOP loyalists.

“We are fellow Americans, an association that means more to me than any other,” McCain told the Republican Convention, deriding “constant partisan rancor” that causes Washington gridlock. He rejected those in Washington who he said “work for themselves and not you.”

“I don’t work for a party,” he declared. “I don’t work for a special interest. I don’t work for myself. I work for you.”

With the race against Democrat Barack Obama competitive with two months to go, the GOP nominee was making an aggressive play for voters from across the political spectrum — Republicans, independents and Democrats alike who are frustrated with partisan infighting that hinders progress.

Even as he preached bipartisanship, McCain served up Republican dogma to the willing crowd — on abortion, taxes, national security, oil drilling, education.

His trick was to appeal to his conservative supporters without turning off independents.

Seeking to give voters wary of Obama an acceptable alternative, McCain praised his Democratic rival and said that Obama’s supporters had his respect and admiration.

“But let there be no doubt, my friends, we’re going to win this election,” McCain said, “and after we’ve won, we’re going to reach out our hand to any willing patriot, make this government start working for you again, and get this country back on the road to prosperity and peace.”

In an arena plastered with his “Country First” slogan, McCain told the GOP’s most faithful supporters that he’s repeatedly worked with members of both parties to fix the country’s ills.

“That’s how I will govern as president,” he said. “I will reach out my hand to anyone to help me get this country moving again. I have that record and the scars to prove it. Senator Obama does not.”

It was a rare mention of his Democratic rival; McCain used his name only six times. And, he mentioned the words Republicans and Democrats mainly in tandem, urging the two sides to work together and trying to show how he was unafraid to take on both parties to force change.

Still, for all the talk of reaching across the aisle, McCain got in jabs at Obama. After all, there are only two months until Election Day. McCain certainly played his share of politics.

He said Obama would raise taxes, close markets, increase government spending, eliminate jobs. He criticized Obama on energy, health care, and education policies.

The audience was clearly hungry for it: They booed Obama after every criticism, though there were relatively few.