President Bush Gives Ringing Endorsement to McCain Wednesday

President George W. Bush gave strong support to Republican presidential hopeful John McCain at a speech given during a fundraiser held in Washington's Convention Center Wednesday evening. The fundraiser raised approximately $21.5 million for candidates of positions in the Republican House and Senate, according to The Associated Press.

Bush repeatedly mentioned McCain's name to the 3,400 people in the audience, specifically pointing out the Republican presidential hopeful's ability not to flinch under pressure.

The President spoke fondly of McCain's assertiveness and leadership abilities, saying, "We need a president who has the experience and judgment to do what is right, even when it is not easy. We need a president who knows what it takes to defeat our enemies. And this year, there is only one man who has shown those qualities of leadership, and that man is John McCain."

The ringing endorsement comes despite the fact that McCain and Bush have rarely appeared in public together, largely due to the efforts of McCain's campaign to keep the two political figures separated in the public eye.