Bush urges Republicans to unite

Washington: President George W Bush today rallied his party's conservative wing to unite behind the Republican nominee in the battle for the presidency, but avoided mention of John McCain, the leading candidate and presumed winner who has a history of clashing with his party's right flank.

Democrats Barak Obama and Hillary Rodham Clinton, meanwhile, looked to upcoming weekend contests as they strove for an advantage in their tight and historic bids for the White House.

Bush still is not ready to weigh in formally on the race, even though Republican Mitt Romney announced yesterday that he was suspending his campaign, virtually sealing the nomination for McCain.

Bush is priming his party's conservative base to get ready to back the veteran senator.

"The stakes in November are high. This is an important election. Prosperity and peace are in the balance," Bush told about 2,000 people attending the Conservative Political Action Conference. "So with confidence in our vision and faith in our values, let us go forward, fight for victory and keep the White House in 2008."

Romney's decision to suspend his campaign, announced Thursday, marked a remarkable turnaround for McCain, a former Vietnam prisoner-of-war whose campaign some seven months ago was barely viable, out of cash and losing staff.

White House spokesman Scott Stanzel said Bush's remarks were not intended to rally the party around McCain.

"There are several candidates in the race," Stanzel said. "We have a vigorous campaign going on." He said Romney's departure "gets us one step closer to having a nominee. We're not there yet."