WHAT WOULD REALLY BE HELPFUL...:

McCain welcomes Bush help on campaign trail (DON FREDERICK and ANDREW MALCOLM, February 17, 2008, LA Times)

The Republican Party's presumptive nominee for president, Sen. John McCain, said he would be "proud" if President Bush campaigned with him in the general election. On "Larry King Live," McCain -- once a bitter enemy of Bush's -- said: "I would be proud to have President Bush campaign with me and support me in any way that he feels is appropriate. And I would appreciate it."

King, seemingly surprised, asked, "Despite his low popularity?"

McCain replied: "I'm not the kind of person that looks at people's popularity. I have a very good relationship with this president. I'm glad he won in 2000 and 2004. We have had some disagreements, but we share many, many values and principles of our Republican Party. And I'm not going to -- it's just not me to say that somehow because someone may not be popular that they shouldn't campaign with me. In fact, I welcome it."

...is if he cast his candidacy in terms of finishing the parts of the Bush legacy that are still hanging: personalizing SS; extending education vouchers; broadening HSAs into a universal health care program; shifting the Court further to the Right; liberalizing immigration; formalizing the League of Democracies; and supporting democratization in the Islamic world. That and reconstituting the President's GOTV operation.

Posted by Orrin Judd at February 17, 2008 9:45 AM