McCain urges Republican unity
John McCain insists he can lead Republicans after Mitt Romney exits White House nomination race
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Friday, 08, Feb 2008 09:02
John McCain insists he is the man to unite the Republicans after Mitt Romney's withdrawal from the party's presidential nomination contest.
The Arizona senator told a conference of conservative activists he would need their full support if Democrat frontrunners Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama were to be barred from the White House.
Mr Romney, the former governor of Massachusetts, withdrew from the campaign to succeed George Bush as president of the United States yesterday after emerging in a clear second place following Super Tuesday.
Speaking to the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) in Washington, Mr Romney said he feared his campaign could become an aid to the "surrender to terror".
"This is not an easy decision, I hate to lose. If this were only about me, I'd go on," he said.
"But it's never been only about me, I entered this race because I love America, and because I love America, in the time of war I feel I have to stand aside for our party and for our country."
Hours after the surprise announcement, Mr McCain, who has been labelled as a non-conservative by Mr Romney in the last week, addressed the same activists, who booed parts of his speech on illegal immigration.
"I know I have a responsibility, if I am, as I hope to be, the Republican nominee for president, to unite the party and prepare for the great contest in November," the Vietnam war veteran said.
"And I am acutely aware that I cannot succeed in that endeavour, nor can our party prevail over the challenge we will face from either Senator Clinton or Senator Obama, without the support of dedicated conservatives, whose convictions, creativity and energy have been indispensable to the success our party has had over the last quarter century."
Mr McCain now appears certain to secure his party's nomination for the White House after claiming 12 states and 707 delegates in primaries held so far.
But former Arkansas governor Mike Huckabee insists he remains in the contest.
"This is a two-man race for the nomination, and I am committed to marching on," Mr Huckabee said.