Bush and McCain need each other
George W. Bush strode into the presidential election for the first time this weekend seeking to rally conservatives behind John McCain. The McCain camp hopes that Bush can help persuade sceptical members of the Republican base that McCain is a nominee worth supporting. Given how popular Bush remains with hardcore Republicans, he can undoubtedly play a valuable role for McCain in consolidating the base’s support for him and raising coin. The Bush White House also seems more than happy to shape its agenda to McCain’s benefit.
Some will be surprised to see Bush bending over backwards to help his old rival. But the truth is that Bush needs McCain as much, if not more, than McCain needs Bush. The Bush presidency will be determined by how Iraq turns out and McCain is the candidate most likely to bring the mission to a relatively successful conclusion. When you consider that Bush’s other signature issue was his attempt to move Hispanic voters into the Republican column, his keen support for McCain makes even more sense as McCain is the only Republican candidate who has any chance of maintaining the gains that Bush made among Hispanics in 2004—all the other Republicans would have alienated Hispanics because of their rush to demagogue the immigration issue.