Ex-President Bush endorses McCain
John McCain, trying to solidify his support among conservatives as he battles Mike Huckabee for the Republican presidential nomination, on Monday won the endorsement of former President George H.W. Bush.
Speaking from Houston and welcoming āan old friend . . . back to Texas,ā Bush called McCain -- a Navy pilot in Vietnam who was captured and tortured by the Viet Cong -- a āremarkable patriot.ā
āFew men walking among us have sacrificed so much in the cause of human freedom,ā Bush said, adding that McCain had āthe right values and experience to guide our nation.ā
Asked about conservative unease with McCain, Bush quoted from the diaries of President Reagan, who had said he was being portrayed by some on the right as a āturncoat conservative.ā Bush dismissed conservative criticism of McCain as āan āunfair attack,ā and said the Arizona senator had āa sound, conservative record, and yet heās not above reaching out to the other side.ā
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