|
|
Change Your Life! |
Despite differences, McCain poised to endorse Bush |
|
News
|
May 10, 2000
PITTSBURGH, MAY 9 (AP) - Despite lingering differences over tax cuts and campaign finance reform, John McCain was ready Tuesday to endorse former Republican presidential rival George W. Bush following their first face-to-face meeting since a bitter primary campaign.
The Arizona senator decided against making a more climactic announcement near this summer's Republican National Convention after tiring of what one adviser, speaking on condition that he not be named, characterized as the Bush's campaign's attempts to manage the meeting and spin its outcome in the media.
McCain told his staff of the decision after receiving a call from Bush on Sunday. When word leaked out Monday, McCain was furious, threatening to reverse course and instructing his staff to meet him an hour before Tuesday's meeting.
Aides expected plans to proceed as announced because, in the words of one adviser, "he wanted to get it behind him and move forward."
Arriving in this battleground state, McCain telegraphed his intentions during a news conference that followed a book signing.
Asked whether he would consider endorsing Bush immediately if he "liked what he heard," McCain replied, "Sure."
Across town, the Texas governor told reporters he would welcome McCain's help in the tight race against his Democratic presidential rival, Vice President Al Gore.
"That's going to be up to John. Of course I'd like his help," Bush said. "He has said out loud on more than one occasion he was looking forward to campaigning for me for president. I take him for his word."
Unity serves the political ambitions of both men.
Bush needs McCain's help to court independent-minded voters and unite the Republicans for a tough race against Vice President Al 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.
Advisers for both men expected a cordial meeting lasting about two hours. Planning to meet face-to-face - without aides - the two had on their agenda political reform, military reform, education, Social Security and McCain's role in the campaign, including the Republican National Convention.
During the primaries, Bush argued for a five-year, dlrs 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 and saying he looked forward to the session, according to several officials familiar with the conversation. Officials said Bush expressed his admiration for the senator during the brief exchange and thanked him for speaking out in favor of the Texan's Social Security plans.
The conversation followed several tense negotiating sessions in which the two sides failed to reach agreement on a written statement that could be distributed to reporters after the session.
The McCain team was pushing for consensus on issues such as campaign finance reform and Social Security, but Bush's aides were said to balk at the notion of issuing a written communique.
McCain had grown impatient with the behind-the-scenes sniping that dominated talks since Bush knocked him from the race, aides said, and didn't want to have to deal with the Bush operation any longer.
And thus, the pair settled on the private meeting followed by the news conference stressing their unity, advisers said.
|