McCain Endorses Bush for President
GOP Rivals Meet in Pittsburgh
By GLEN JOHNSON
.c The Associated Press
PITTSBURGH (May 9) - Two months after their bitter primary battle, John McCain endorsed George W. Bush today and said he looked forward to ``enthusiastically campaigning'' for the likely Republican presidential nominee. McCain, however, asked not to be considered as a running mate.
The Arizona senator gave his formal endorsement to Bush after a 90-minute private meeting that ended with a public handshake. ``I endorse Governor Bush,'' McCain said over and over with a smile, drawing laughter from an audience that had waited weeks for the moment.
``By the way, I enthusiastically accept,'' Bush said.
McCain and Bush acknowledged they still have differences. ``We are in agreement on more issues than we are in disagreement,'' McCain said.
While agreeing to hit the campaign trail for his one-time rival, McCain made clear he wouldn't accept the No. 2 position on a Republican ticket that polls show would attract support from independent voters who also are being courted by Democrat Al Gore.
``I asked that I not be considered for vice president of the United States,'' McCain said. He added that the Texas governor had a long list of qualified candidates to choose from, including Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Ridge, Sen. Fred Thompson of Tennessee and Wisconsin Gov. Tommy G. Thompson.
When a reporter asked McCain about aides' remarks that the timing of the endorsement was like taking medicine now rather than later, McCain replied, ``I think your 'take-the-medicine-now' is probably a good description.''
Behind the scenes, McCain's political team was chafing at Bush's refusal in the news conference to repudiate conservative broadcaster Pat Robertson's statement last weekend that a McCain vice presidency would be ``very dangerous.''
Asked about that, Bush simply said that McCain is ``a friend of mine.''
``I look forward to enthusiastically campaigning for Governor Bush for the next six months,'' McCain said, calling the Texas governor the most qualified candidate to be president.
``I believe it is very important that we restore integrity to the White House,'' McCain said.
Both men said the tough GOP primary had not affected their relationship. ``To look back with any anger or any rancor would be a mistake for me and for Governor Bush,'' McCain said. ``I hold no rancor.''
Bush also offered an olive branch to McCain, saying he hoped his former rival would play a key role at the Republican nominating convention this summer. He said that in the tough primary campaign, McCain ``made me a better candidate'' and added to Bush's preparation to be president.
The Texas governor, who had been reluctant to compliment McCain immediately after their primary fight, said, ``I told him point blank he made me a better candidate. He waged a very good campaign, he put me through my paces, and as a result of the campaign, I stand better prepared to become the president.''
Bush said the two agree in many areas, including a need for reforms in education, Social Security and campaign finance laws.
McCain told his staff of the endorsement decision after receiving a call from Bush on Sunday. When word leaked out Monday, McCain was furious, threatening temporarily in private to reverse course.
Unity serves the political ambitions of both men.
Bush needs McCain's help to court independent-minded voters and unite the GOP for a tough race against Vice President Gore.
McCain, whose presidential ambitions didn't perish with his campaign, wants to convince Republicans he is a party warrior worthy of a second look in the future.
Nonetheless, McCain was concerned that looking too eager to cozy up to Bush would tarnish his image as a straight-shooting outsider. And Bush was wary of being seen as begging for McCain's support, since doing so would make him look weak or desperate against Gore.
During the primaries, Bush argued for a five-year, $460 billion tax cut. McCain said the country could not afford it and the money would be better spent shoring up Social Security and paying down the national debt.
The two also clashed on campaign finance reform. McCain argued for a ban on all party-building, ``soft-money'' donations. Bush disagreed, saying that would give an unfair advantage to Democratic candidates, who can benefit from political donations funneled through labor unions.
Bush tried to dilute the differences Sunday by telephoning McCain.
AP-NY-05-09-00 1037EDT
Copyright 2000 The Associated Press.
GOP Rivals Meet in Pittsburgh
By GLEN JOHNSON
.c The Associated Press
PITTSBURGH (May 9) - Two months after their bitter primary battle, John McCain endorsed George W. Bush today and said he looked forward to ``enthusiastically campaigning'' for the likely Republican presidential nominee. McCain, however, asked not to be considered as a running mate.
The Arizona senator gave his formal endorsement to Bush after a 90-minute private meeting that ended with a public handshake. ``I endorse Governor Bush,'' McCain said over and over with a smile, drawing laughter from an audience that had waited weeks for the moment.
``By the way, I enthusiastically accept,'' Bush said.
McCain and Bush acknowledged they still have differences. ``We are in agreement on more issues than we are in disagreement,'' McCain said.
While agreeing to hit the campaign trail for his one-time rival, McCain made clear he wouldn't accept the No. 2 position on a Republican ticket that polls show would attract support from independent voters who also are being courted by Democrat Al Gore.
``I asked that I not be considered for vice president of the United States,'' McCain said. He added that the Texas governor had a long list of qualified candidates to choose from, including Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Ridge, Sen. Fred Thompson of Tennessee and Wisconsin Gov. Tommy G. Thompson.
When a reporter asked McCain about aides' remarks that the timing of the endorsement was like taking medicine now rather than later, McCain replied, ``I think your 'take-the-medicine-now' is probably a good description.''
Behind the scenes, McCain's political team was chafing at Bush's refusal in the news conference to repudiate conservative broadcaster Pat Robertson's statement last weekend that a McCain vice presidency would be ``very dangerous.''
Asked about that, Bush simply said that McCain is ``a friend of mine.''
``I look forward to enthusiastically campaigning for Governor Bush for the next six months,'' McCain said, calling the Texas governor the most qualified candidate to be president.
``I believe it is very important that we restore integrity to the White House,'' McCain said.
Both men said the tough GOP primary had not affected their relationship. ``To look back with any anger or any rancor would be a mistake for me and for Governor Bush,'' McCain said. ``I hold no rancor.''
Bush also offered an olive branch to McCain, saying he hoped his former rival would play a key role at the Republican nominating convention this summer. He said that in the tough primary campaign, McCain ``made me a better candidate'' and added to Bush's preparation to be president.
The Texas governor, who had been reluctant to compliment McCain immediately after their primary fight, said, ``I told him point blank he made me a better candidate. He waged a very good campaign, he put me through my paces, and as a result of the campaign, I stand better prepared to become the president.''
Bush said the two agree in many areas, including a need for reforms in education, Social Security and campaign finance laws.
McCain told his staff of the endorsement decision after receiving a call from Bush on Sunday. When word leaked out Monday, McCain was furious, threatening temporarily in private to reverse course.
Unity serves the political ambitions of both men.
Bush needs McCain's help to court independent-minded voters and unite the GOP for a tough race against Vice President Gore.
McCain, whose presidential ambitions didn't perish with his campaign, wants to convince Republicans he is a party warrior worthy of a second look in the future.
Nonetheless, McCain was concerned that looking too eager to cozy up to Bush would tarnish his image as a straight-shooting outsider. And Bush was wary of being seen as begging for McCain's support, since doing so would make him look weak or desperate against Gore.
During the primaries, Bush argued for a five-year, $460 billion tax cut. McCain said the country could not afford it and the money would be better spent shoring up Social Security and paying down the national debt.
The two also clashed on campaign finance reform. McCain argued for a ban on all party-building, ``soft-money'' donations. Bush disagreed, saying that would give an unfair advantage to Democratic candidates, who can benefit from political donations funneled through labor unions.
Bush tried to dilute the differences Sunday by telephoning McCain.
AP-NY-05-09-00 1037EDT
Copyright 2000 The Associated Press.