Former U.S. president Bush endorses McCain

Source: Xinhua | 02-19-2008 07:49

WASHINGTON, Feb. 18 (Xinhua) -- Former U.S. President George H. W. Bush Monday endorsed John McCain to be the 2008 Republican presidential candidate.

Republican presidential candidate Senator John McCain speaks after gaining the endorsement of former U.S.  President George Bush (R) at a campaign event in  Houston Feb. 18, 2008.(Xinhua/Reuters File Photo)

"As someone who also helped lead our great party at the RNC (Republican National Committee) and later as president, I believe now is the right time for me to help John in his effort to start building the broad-based coalition it'll take for our values to carry the White House this fall," the 41st U.S. president told a televised news conference held in Houston, Texas.

He said "no one is better prepared to lead our nation at these trying times than (Arizona) Senator John McCain," and he was happy to help "this remarkable patriot carry our party's banner forward."

Standing side by side with elder Bush, McCain expressed his gratitude for the former president's support, saying the effort to continue to unite the Republican party "will be enhanced dramatically by President Bush's words."

The elder Bush has been neutral for the entire campaign, but he might once have preferred former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney, who dropped out of the race after his defeat in Super Tuesday primaries on Feb. 5, the Washington Post quoted the source as saying.

Republican presidential candidate Senator John McCain speaks after gaining the endorsement of former U.S.  President George Bush who appeared at the campaign  event with wife Barbara (L) and McCain's wife Cindy(R) in Houston Feb. 18, 2008.(Xinhua/Reuters File Photo)

The former president's endorsement was another boost to McCain's efforts to unite the Republican Party and pressure on former Arkansas governor Mike Huckabee, McCain's remaining challenger, to drop out of the race.

However, elder Bush suggested without naming Huckabee that by endorsing McCain, he "did not come here to tell any other candidate what to do."

He also refuted criticism that McCain does not observe conservative stances, saying McCain has "got a sound conservative record."

The incumbent president George W. Bush, the 43rd, has not formally endorsed McCain but has offered to help rally conservatives if the Arizona senator becomes the nominee.

Editor:Zhang Pengfei