On Thursday night, John McCain ran a television advertisement following Barack Obama’s acceptance speech that both sums up the sort of campaign McCain has been waging (and Obama wishes he were) and caps off an impressively effective series of ads from the GOP nominee.

In the ad, McCain congratulates Obama for receiving the nomination for president. McCain notes, “how perfect that your nomination would come on this historic day,” referencing the 45th anniversary of Martin Luther King, Jr.’s historic “I Have a Dream” speech. It’s a gesture that indicates McCain may indeed hope to maintain a “different kind of campaign.”

McCain purchased ad time for every night of the convention to counter the Democrats’ headline-grabbing message push. Some expected that McCain might use Thursday’s space to introduce his vice presidential pick, with the hope that such an announcement could temper the coverage of the Obama speech. Rather than go this (poorly advised) route, McCain elected to showcase his decency with the congratulatory spot. The ad also showcased his bipartisan streak.

While Obama made this election largely about national unity with his lofty language and claims of bipartisanship activity, McCain actually holds the more sound record on reaching across the aisle. From campaign finance reform to comprehensive immigration reform (dangerous policies nonetheless), McCain has a documented history of working with Democrats as well as with his own party. Obama, on the other hand, is listed as one of the most liberal senators by the National Journal and lacks a substantial voting record that shows an effort to work with Republicans.

These talking points are nothing new, but the symbolism of Thursday night’s ad should remind voters of exactly who is reaching out to whom. When McCain offered to hold 10 town hall meetings this fall, Obama turned down a chance to shake up the current electoral system for a change. When Obama expressed denial about the progress U.S. troops have made in Iraq as a result in the surge, McCain publicly offered him a chance to visit Iraq and re-examine his stance. Obama remains unwavering in his opposition to the surge, which has been praised by both Democrats and Republicans.

So after a week of partying by the Democrats in Denver, where we heard both moderate Mark Warner insinuate that Republicans don’t “believe in science” and an acceptance four years in the making, a calm and gracious “congratulations” from McCain reminds Americans how remarkable Obama’s nomination is. What is also remarkable is that a politician took a break from his (necessary) campaigning against an opponent to make a decent and apparently genuine gesture.

America would be better off if Obama did the same.