McCain has support of Romney to boost cash for election

Published on Thursday 27 March 2008 23:27

REPUBLICAN John McCain found help yesterday from an unlikely source – his former rival, Mitt Romney. Weeks ago, the two were fighting bitterly for the party's presidential nomination.

In their first campaign swing as allies, Mr Romney appeared with Mr McCain, the Republican candidate in everything but name, at a private fundraiser in the Republican bastion of Salt Lake City. The two were travelling on to Denver for a second fundraiser. They were joined by the Utah governor, Jon Huntsman, an early McCain supporter mentioned as a potential vice-presidential candidate.

Meg Whitman, the outgoing chief executive of eBay and a prominent Romney backer, also joined them.

Mr McCain has struggled to raise campaign money compared with his Democratic Party rivals, Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton.

Mr Romney is popular in Utah and Colorado, states with many members of his Mormon faith. A former governor of Massachusetts, he dropped out of the race last month. A week later, he endorsed the Arizona senator and pledged to help Mr McCain win.

Since then, Mr McCain has praised Mr Romney as someone who is certain to continue playing a large role in the Republican Party.

Mr Romney has suggested that he would accept the No2 spot on the ticket for the election, though some Republicans privately speculate that he is looking to another run for president in 2012.