Bush-McCain Talks Are Back on Schedule

A May 9 meeting between Texas Gov. George W. Bush and Sen. John McCain will go ahead as scheduled after aides to both Republicans met Friday and patched up their differences.

McCain threatened Thursday to pull out of the meeting with his former GOP rival because of publicity surrounding the event and reports that Bush wanted to discuss the vice presidency, a prospect the Arizona senator said he has ruled out.

But on Friday, McCain advisor John Weaver and Bush campaign manager Joe Allbaugh agreed on an agenda for the meeting after a 45-minute planning session in Washington.

Both camps characterized the Friday session as pleasant, using almost the same language.

“It was cordial and productive,” said Todd Harris, a spokesman for McCain. “McCain looks forward to a substantive discussion with Gov. Bush on May 9.”

Harris refused to reveal the specifics of the agenda for the meeting, which will be held in Pittsburgh, saying that both sides agree to keep the details private.

McCain said during the primary season that he would support the eventual Republican nominee but has yet to formally endorse Bush.

Bush’s spokesman Scott McClellan called the Friday session “a positive conversation.”

“The governor has said all along that he wants to discuss how they can work together on many issues they agree upon,” McClellan said.

Meanwhile, Bush on Friday named Don Evans, a longtime friend and fellow Texan, to head his campaign, apparently dismissing suggestions from some GOP circles that the presidential candidate needs to bring more non-Texans into his inner circle.

Evans, an oil and gas businessman who served as Bush’s finance chairman, was unofficially running the campaign for months and now holds the title of campaign chairman. Bush has known him for 30 years and went to elementary school with Evans’ wife in Midland, Texas.

“Don is a good man and a great friend,” Bush said in a statement. “He is an experienced chief executive and someone that I trust. He has my complete confidence.”