Bush pledges to help McCain

WASHINGTON -- John McCain's success in sewing up the Republican nomination created a party-like atmosphere at the White House -- and even the president was dancing.

"I'm just going to tap-dance the day away," President Bush said, laughing and stalling for time as he waited on the North Portico for the tardy Arizona senator who was arriving for lunch and Bush's endorsement.

In a day heavy on symbolism, the current head of the GOP embraced its next standard-bearer, and McCain visited Republican National Committee headquarters as he looked to take advantage of the party perks that come with sealing the nomination.

Bush's endorsement has baggage, though, reminding voters of the drawn-out Iraq war and the nation's economic woes under an unpopular GOP president.

Regardless of the risks, Bush said he'd do whatever he could to help McCain win.

"I got a lot to do, but I'm going to find ample time to help," the president said, standing alongside the man who was his rival in a bitter 2000 primary campaign. "I can help raising money, and if he wants my pretty face standing by his side at one of these rallies, I'll be glad to show up."

McCain, in turn, said: "I will be glad to have the president with me, in keeping with his schedule, in any part of America."

In endorsing McCain, Bush showered him with words of praise, saying: "John showed incredible courage and strength of character and perseverance in order to get to this moment. And that's exactly what we need in a president: somebody that can handle the tough decisions; somebody who won't flinch in the face of danger."

"I'm very honored and humbled," McCain said in response.

The party-unifying efforts came a day after the senator sealed the GOP nomination by gaining the required 1,191 delegates.

Hoping to spoil the GOP party, Democrats wasted no time in tagging McCain's candidacy as a continuation of the Bush presidency.

"John McCain just doesn't get it," said Howard Dean, the Democratic Party chairman. "All he offers is four more years of the failed Bush economy, an endless war in Iraq and shameless hypocrisy on ethics reform. The fact is, the American people want change, not another out-of-touch Bush Republican, and Democrats welcome the opportunity to draw this contrast for voters."

Republicans claimed strength in unity. GOP House and Senate leaders emerged from a meeting with Bush later to give McCain a plug of their own.

"I think our party is completely unified behind Senator McCain," Sen. Mitch McConnell, the Republican leader, said, dismissing continued fissures in the GOP's base over McCain's candidacy. "Time heals all wounds," House Minority Leader John Boehner added of disgruntled conservatives. "They'll be coming home. Just give them a little time."

With the nomination sealed, Bush endorsing him and Republicans in Congress lending their hands, McCain was essentially laying claim to the entire force of the Republican Party apparatus -- from fundraising lists and get-out-the-vote programs to Cabinet officials and the power of the presidency itself -- as he and the party set in motion a general election campaign to keep a Republican in the White House.

After celebrating his triumph Tuesday night, McCain had flown from Texas to Washington early Wednesday for what amounted to a victory lap after a bruising 16-month Republican presidential primary campaign in which he emerged the last man standing in a crowded field. He visited not only the White House he hopes to occupy but also the RNC headquarters that he will take control of soon.

For Republicans, the general election campaign starts now, even though Democrats still haven't chosen a candidate. Sens. Barack Obama and Hillary Rodham Clinton are likely to continue battling for their party's nod for at least another few weeks, leaving McCain a chance to unite his party and get a jump on the race.

To that end, Bush's support sends a strong signal to Republican critics to fall in line.

Conservatives and some members of the GOP establishment have resisted rallying around McCain even though he's been the likely nominee for a month since his coast-to-coast Super Tuesday wins forced his chief rival, Mitt Romney, from the race. The party's right flank long has viewed McCain skeptically for working with Democrats on issues that make conservatives cringe, including a comprehensive immigration plan and campaign finance reform.

Despite Bush's low ratings in general surveys, he remains a well-liked figure with the GOP rank-and-file. Between now and the fall, Bush could be an asset in raising money and rallying the base for McCain.

McCain, for his part, said he plans, as much as possible, to campaign with Bush.

"I hope that the president will find time from his busy schedule to be out on the campaign trail with me, and I will be very privileged to have the opportunity of being again on the campaign trail with him -- only slightly different roles this time," said McCain, referring to their fight for the 2000 nomination.

Despite his comments, McCain runs a risk of alienating large segments of the general electorate by standing shoulder to shoulder with Bush.

Still, Bush pledged to do whatever he could.

"If my showing up and endorsing him helps him -- or if I'm against him and it helps him -- either way, I want him to win," the president said. "This is an age-old question that every president has had to answer, and there is an appropriate amount of campaigning for me to do. But they're not going to be voting for me."