ST. PAUL, Minn. – Republican convention speakers leveled withering attacks on Democrat Barack Obama as soon as a hurricane-driven cool-off period passed, notwithstanding John McCain's oft-stated impatience with politics as usual.

Three men who once challenged McCain for the GOP's presidential nomination used their Campaign 2008 swansongs to throw out the partisan red meat that the Arizonan had held back at Monday's truncated session out of deference to the Gulf Coast storm.

Former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney and former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee were only too willing to dish during back-to-back-to-back speeches Wednesday night:

 Giuliani cast the Republican Party as “the party that expands freedom.”

An advance text of his remarks said: “We began as a party dedicated to freeing people from slavery and we are still the party that is willing to fight for freedom at home and around the world. We are the party that wants to expand individual freedom and economic freedom because we believe that the secret of America's success is not central government, it is self-government.”

Giuliani also made the case for Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, who has faced questions about her experience after just 22 months in statewide office.

“She's already one of the most successful governors in America – and the most popular. And she already has more executive experience than the entire Democratic ticket,” he said.

 Romney used his 15 minutes of convention fame to jab at Obama and contrast his government vision with that of McCain.

“The right course is the one championed by Ronald Reagan 30 years ago, and by John McCain today,” he said in a prepared text released in advance. “It is to rein in government spending and lower taxes, for taking a weed-whacker to excessive regulation and mandates, for putting a stop to tort windfalls, and to stand up to the Tyrannosaurus appetite of government unions.”

Romney, who has argued that families should be off-limits in a political campaign, also resurrected – though not explicitly – a controversy over the statement by Obama's wife, Michelle, that support for her husband's campaign made her proud of her country again.

“Just like you, there has never been a day when I was not proud to be an American,” said Romney.

 Huckabee accused Obama of lacking critical experience and judgment in foreign policy.

“Maybe the most dangerous threat of an Obama presidency is that he would continue to give madmen the benefit of the doubt. If he's wrong just once, we will pay a heavy price,” said Huckabee's text.

The former governor also tweaked Obama on his campaign's “Change” theme.

“John McCain doesn't want the kind of change that allows the government to reach deeper into your paycheck and pick your doctor, your child's school or even the kind of car you drive or how much you inflate the tires,” Huckabee said.

He added: “I'm not a Republican because I grew up rich, but because I didn't want to spend the rest of my life poor, waiting for the government to rescue me.”