DENVER – Montana Gov. Brian Schweitzer, not exactly a household name in national Democratic politics, energized the party's convention Tuesday night with an animated, arm-waving speech chastising Sen. John McCain.

Schweitzer, a westerner who came to the podium sporting a bolo tie, warmed up the crowd for Hillary Rodham Clinton's appearance with a rousing attack on McCain's energy policies, capping a day in which Democratic governors labeled the Arizona Republican a shill for the oil industry. They charged he's more interested in recycling President Bush's policies than in helping the environment.

“Even leaders in the oil industry know that Senator McCain has it wrong. We simply can't drill our way to energy independence, even if you drilled in all of John McCain's backyards, including the ones he can't even remember,” Schweitzer said, bringing delegates to their feet.

McCain's campaign dismissed the criticism.

“In an effort to disguise a convention without a message and a candidate without any experience on meaningful energy policy, repairing an economy or dangerous international affairs, Obama supporters are reduced to flimsy attacks,” McCain spokesman Tucker Bounds said.

Flimsy or not, the governors tore into McCain as an out-of-touch, policy-poor insider who would be a disaster for voters' pocketbooks.

“He doesn't understand the economy as well as he should. And he doesn't understand how the policies that he has supported and wants to perpetuate have so terribly misfired,” said Janet Napolitano, the governor of McCain's home state of Arizona.

Without pause, speakers repeated the message that McCain amounted to a third Bush term.

“If he's the answer, then the question must be ridiculous,” New York Gov. David Paterson said of the GOP presidential candidate. “...I have a better idea. Let's give them four more months and then elect Barack Obama.”

Others turned to punch lines to criticize McCain.

“You know, it was once said of the first George Bush, it was said that he was born on third base and thought he'd hit a triple,” Ohio Gov. Ted Strickland said. “Well, with the 22 million new jobs and the budget surplus that Bill Clinton left behind, George W. Bush came into office on third base – and then he stole second. And John McCain cheered him every step of the way.”

Kansas Gov. Kathleen Sebelius even invoked “The Wizard of Oz” to ding McCain.

“I'm sure you remember a girl from Kansas who said there's no place like home. Well, in John McCain's version, there's no place like home. Or a home. Or a home. Or a home,” Sebelius said.

Speakers repeated the weeks-old line of attack on McCain without break.

“Now the oil companies are placing their bets on John McCain, bankrolling his campaign and gambling with our future,” said Iowa Gov. Chet Culver. “

Most of the governors' speeches came to a largely empty auditorium. The governors were given short blocs – some prepared remarks were only a single page.

“Thank you, my time is up,” Paterson joked as the scantly filled auditorium loudly applauded his arrival.

Even so, the governors didn't hesitate to challenge McCain and praise McCain's energy plan.

“Barack Obama understands the most important barrel of oil is the one you don't use,” Schweitzer said. “Barack Obama's energy strategy taps all sources and all possibilities.”

And throughout it, linking McCain to the current administration proved a surefire way to get applause.

“The entrenched powers of the Bush/Cheney years have everything to gain from keeping things just the way they are. They will pull out all the stops to elect John McCain because they know he'll keep looking out for them,” Wisconsin Gov. Jim Doyle said. “But I have news for them: their days are numbered.”