McCain endorses Bush, pledges whole-hearted support

May 9, 2000
Web posted at: 10:09 p.m. EDT (0209 GMT)

PITTSBURGH (CNN) -- Former Republican presidential opponents John McCain and George W. Bush emerged all smiles from their long-anticipated meeting on Tuesday, as the Arizona senator not only endorsed Bush, but pledged to "enthusiastically" campaign for his once bitter rival.

Sen. John McCain endorsed Gov. George W. Bush Tuesday in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

Bush and McCain emerged from their 90-minute private meeting with a public handshake to cement their political alliance to defeat Vice President Al Gore, the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee. Still, strains from their bitter GOP primary bout were evident.

"I endorse Governor Bush, I endorse Governor Bush, I endorse Governor Bush," McCain replied when reporters asked if he had difficulty using the "endorse" word.

"By the way, I enthusiastically accept," Bush interjected.

With broad grins, both Bush and McCain described their face-to-face session to reporters as a "good meeting" and strove to down play their differences on issues such as campaign finance reform and tax cuts.

"We are in agreement on more issues than we are in disagreement," said McCain, citing common ground on reforming education, Social Security, and the military. "I look forward to enthusiastically campaigning for Gov. Bush over the next six months."

Although he agreed to stump aggressively for his one-time rival, the Arizona senator again made clear that he would not accept the vice presidential spot on the Republican ticket.

"I asked that I not be considered for vice president of the United States," McCain told reporters. McCain added that Bush had a long list of qualified Republican candidates to choose from, including Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Ridge, Sen. Fred Thompson of Tennessee and Wisconsin Gov. Tommy Thompson.

Later Tuesday on CNN's "Larry King Live," Bush said he had not "seen the list" of possible vice president nominees being compiled for him by former Secretary of Defense Dick Cheney. "We're still in the 'adding names' process. I haven't even seen the list yet."

McCain: it's better to 'take the medicine now'

McCain advisers said the senator had grown tired of the circus-like atmosphere surrounding the pending meeting as well as the swirling questions of whether he would endorse Bush for president.

"I hope that our next meeting will not nearly attract as much attention as this one did, and I look forward to further discussion with Gov. Bush and being present when he is inaugurated as the next president of the United States," McCain said Tuesday.

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."

McCain refused to rule out the possibility of a Cabinet post -- such as Secretary of Defense -- in a Bush Administration.

Joking with reporters after the meeting Tuesday about which job he might like in a Bush Cabinet, McCain said, "Secretary of Reform."

"I will not give up on the reform agenda, I will continue to pursue the issues of reform ... they are not contradictory to my support of Gov. Bush," he said.

In the Larry King interview, Bush offered how McCain can help during the campaign. "I think that there are two really good roles for John. One is to campaign with ... but the other role for John is to campaign for members of the United States Congress. I think it's important for me to have a Congress with which I can work, and I think John is willing to do both."

Asked by King about possible Cabinet nominees, Bush said, "It's way too early for me to be picking candidates."

McCain, who won contests in New Hampshire, Michigan and five other states before dropping out of the race, attracted unprecedented numbers of moderate and independent voters to his insurgent GOP cause -- a political reality that both Bush and Gore have vowed not to ignore.

"There's a lot of people who think John is not only a great American but a person who's got a good solid agenda for the future," Bush said Friday. "I intend to continue talking about reform, and it's very helpful to have John embrace reform."

McCain has maintained a heavy media presence since suspending his campaign though his appearances with and for House and Senate candidates who support his reform agenda. He also recently returned to the bitter primary battleground of South Carolina to call for the removal of the Confederate battle flag from the statehouse -- a stance he ducked during the primary campaign.

Both men said Tuesday that 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."

"I've always respected John," Bush said. "We had a tough primary. I told him point blank he made me a better candidate ... as a result of the campaign, I'm better prepared to be president."

"We agree that we need to change the tone and temperament of Washington, we agree there needs to be substantial reform when it comes to education and social security, reform when it comes to campaign funding laws," Bush added.

Moving forward

The Texas governor did not say with which facets of the McCain campaign finance reform agenda he agreed. The two clashed frequently over the campaign finance issue during the primaries, particularly over McCain's proposal for a ban on all "soft-money" donations, those unregulated and unlimited donations intended for party-building activities.

Bush disagreed, saying that would give an unfair advantage to Democratic candidates, who can benefit from political donations funneled through labor unions.

The two men also differed over Bush's five year, $483 billion tax cut plan, which McCain said was too costly. The Arizona senator favored smaller, targeted tax cuts, and using most of the federal budget surplus to shore up Social Security and pay down the national debt.

Despite their bitter past, Bush had hoped that the meeting would yield an enthusiastic endorsement from McCain that could help his campaign attract all-important moderate and independent voters in the general election.

McCain, whose presidential ambitions didn't perish in March with his campaign, hopes to convince the GOP leadership that he stands among the party faithful.

At McCain's insistence, the two talked about the Arizona senator's place at the upcoming Republican National Convention. Their staffs have discussed the topic only sparingly, but have agreed in principle that McCain would get a high-profile speaking role, if not the keynote address or the nominating speech.

"I have no idea when, or what time, or what day ... but John certainly deserves a spot at the convention," Bush told King.

"The only way you approach politics and seek elective office is to move forward. For me to look back in anger or with any rancor would be a mistake," McCain said.

White House correspondent John King and The Associated Press contributed to this report.