In the Washington Post today we read this:

[Scott] Brown has called his effort “the politics of hope” and, like candidate Obama did, admonished campaign workers to maintain courtesies — at a Saturday stop in a call center in Worcester, he even complimented the “very respectful” behavior of the Democratic “trackers,” the fixtures of modern campaigning who record a candidate’s every move on video.Brown has called his effort “the politics of hope” and, like candidate Obama did, admonished campaign workers to maintain courtesies — at a Saturday stop in a call center in Worcester, he even complimented the “very respectful” behavior of the Democratic “trackers,” the fixtures of modern campaigning who record a candidate’s every move on video.

This is both impressive and wise. I have argued before that tone is an undervalued commodity in American politics; voters want candidates to be principled in their convictions, civil in their presentation, and likable in their demeanor.

Bob McDonnell ran a similar campaign in Virginia: he was focused on issues the voters care about, free of distracting side battles, strong in his views but not off-putting in his style.

Let the Left devour itself in its animosities and anger. In the current political environment, Republicans and conservatives can prevail by combining good policies with good manners. Our greatest political leaders have shown that convictions and civility can co-exist very easily together. (h/t: Rich Lowry, NRO)