Romney Backs "The Next President Of The United States, Sen. John McCain"
MItt Romney endorsing John McCain today in Boston sounded very, very veeply:
"I'm officially endorsing his candidacy," Romney said, "and today I'm asking my delegates to vote for Sen. McCain at the convention."
"In the thick of the fight, it's easy to lose sight of your opponent's finer qualities but the truth is ... I could never quite do that," he added. Romney also said "the caliber of the man was apparent" and that McCain is "capable of leading the country at a dangerous hour."
More: "For him, national security is not just another agenda item. It is the abiding concern and responsibility of the nation."
Romney said McCain has "served and suffered for his country." "With their rhetoric, our Democratic opponents are very skilled at striking heroic poses but ... we're going to offer them the real thing."
McCain desperately needed Romney's nod to start to quiet a rowdy religious right still attempting to buck his now inevitable nom. Interestingly, the AZ senator said he would "have Gov. Romney and members of his team at my side." He thanked Romney for the "hard, intensive, honorable campaign he ran," saying the former MA guv "helped me become a better candidate."
"I look forward to campaigning with Gov. Romney, and I look forward to his continued very important role of leadership in our party that he has exercised in the past and will exercise even more so in the future," McCain said.
He added: "Now we move forward together for the good of our party and the nation."
Campaigning together. Sharing staff. Watch out, Mike Huckabee. Seems like there's a new veep wannabe in town.
(JENNIFER SKALKA)