Saith Obama in his victory speech. The crowd roared an honest ovation, and Obama continued: “We honor his service.” Gracious and intelligent. Or is it intelligent?

Part of the weaponry in the McCain arsenal for November is reintroducing — or introducing — the extraordinary tale of his rival’s conduct in the Hanoi Hilton, including his refusal to leave when offered an exit by his captors. Many know it, but many don’t, and those who do won’t mind hearing it again. Obama is running as a personality candidate, and he is a marvelous personality. But McCain is something grander and rarer and nobler than that, and it won’t help Obama if he is one of the people who reminds the American people of it.