SmallGovTimes.com

By: SGT News | Published on 02/08/08    

President Bush took the opportunity during a speech in front of the Conservative Political Action Committee to try and bring frustrated conservatives together in preparation for the looming general elections where McCain looks to be the GOP favorite.

"We have had good debates and soon we will have a nominee who will carry a conservative banner into this election and beyond," Bush said to a silent CPAC crowd. "The stakes in November are high. . . . Prosperity and peace are in the balance. 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."

The speech marks the beginning of what may be a new presidential priority to try and ease conservatives into a small but necessary comfort zone. Many conservatives feel John McCain lacks the credentials and voting record to warrant their support. The audience booed McCain during his speech yesterday when the Arizona senator mentioned his immigration proposal.

Bush never mentioned McCain's name, but the audience was well aware of the meaning of his speech. "Over the past seven years, we have engaged this opposition with a clear and consistent philosophy," Bush said, arguing that conservatives have stood their ground in the face of their rivals.

Mitt Romney officially suspended his campaign for the presidency during his speech to CPAC yesterday. With McCain's formidable delegate lead, no other GOP contender is in the position to challenge McCain for the nomination. Both former Governor Mike Huckabee and Texas Representative Ron Paul remain in the race, for now.

Bush's approval rating hit rock bottom in a new AP/Ipsos poll released today with only 30% of respondents approving of the job Mr. Bush is doing. Congress got a similarly dismal rating, only managing to pick up the support of 22% of those polled.

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