    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2008, Book I)]
    [March 5, 2008]
    [Pages 324-327]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Remarks Following a Lunch With Senator John McCain and an Exchange With Reporters
    March 5, 2008

        The President. It's been my honor to welcome my friend John McCain
    as the nominee of the Republican Party. A while back, I don't think many
    people would have thought that John McCain would be here as the nominee
    of the Republican Party, except he knew he would be here, and so did his
    wife Cindy.
        John showed incredible courage and strength of character and
    perseverance in order to get to this moment. And that's exactly what we
    need in a President, somebody that can handle the tough decisions,
    somebody who won't flinch in the face of danger.
        We also need somebody with a big heart. I have got to know John well
    in the last 8 years. I've campaigned against him, and I've campaigned
    with him. Laura and I have spent time in their
    house. This is a man who deeply loves his family. It's a man who cares a
    lot about the less fortunate among us. He's a president, and he's going
    to be the President who will bring determination to defeat an enemy and
    a heart big enough to love those who hurt.
        And so I welcome you here. I wish you all the best, and I'm proud to
    be your friend.
        Sen. McCain. Thank you, sir. Well, I'm very honored and humbled to
    have the opportunity to receive the endorsement of the President of the
    United States, a man who I have great admiration, respect, and
    affection. We--he and I, as is well known, had a very good competition
    in the year 2000, and I was privileged and proud to have the opportunity
    to campaign for his election and reelection to the Presidency of the
    United States.
        I appreciate his endorsement. I appreciate his service to our
    country. I intend to have as much possible campaigning events together,
    as it is in keeping with the President's heavy schedule. And I look
    forward to that opportunity. I look forward to the chance to bring our
    message to America.
        Last night, as you know, both Senator Obama and Senator Clinton
    called to congratulate me. I pledged at that time, and I pledge again, a
    respectful campaign, a respectful campaign based on the issues and based
    on the stark differences in vision that we have for the future of
    America.
        I hope that the President will find time from his busy schedule to
    be out on the campaign trail with me. And I will be very privileged to
    have the opportunity of being again on the campaign trail with him--only
    slightly different roles this time. [Laughter]
        I thank you, Mr. President, and it's a pleasure to be here.
        The President. Yes, we'll answer a couple of questions.
        Abramowitz [Michael Abramowitz, Washington Post]. Sorry you got such
    a lousy seat back there. [Laughter]

    2008 Presidential Election

        Q. I wanted to ask about--[inaudible]. The voters, according to a
    lot of the exit polls, seem to be searching for change this year. And
    I'd like to ask both of you--excuse me--I'd like to ask both of you how
    the Republican Party, which has been here for 8 years, is going to make
    the case that you're going to provide the change that the voters seem to
    want, both on Iraq and on the economy?
        The President. Yes. Let me start off by saying that in 2000, I said,
    vote for me; I'm an agent of change. In 2004, I said, I'm not interested
    in change; I want to continue as President. Every candidate has got to
    say ``change.'' That's what the American people expect.

    [[Page 325]]

        And the good news about our candidate is, there will be a new
    President, a man of character and courage, but he's not going to change
    when it comes to taking on the enemy. He understands this is a dangerous
    world, and I understand we better have steadfast leadership who has got
    the courage and determination to pursue this enemy so as to protect
    America.
        John McCain will find out, when he takes the oath of office, his
    most important responsibility is to protect the American people from
    harm. And there's still an enemy that lurks, an enemy that wants to
    strike us. And this country better have somebody in that Oval Office who
    understands the stakes, and John McCain understands those stakes.
        Sen. McCain. Thank you, sir. I don't have anything to add.
    [Laughter]
        Q. Can I follow up, sir? How would you----
        The President. No, you can't follow up. Thank you. [Laughter]
        Q. Yes, on----
        The President. No, no, not you. Going to call Kelly [Kelly
    O'Donnell, NBC News]. Kelly.

    President's Endorsement/2008 Presidential Election

        Q. Senator McCain, given President Bush's low approval ratings, will
    this be a negative or a positive for you? And how much do you hope he'll
    campaign for you on the trail?
        Sen. McCain. I hope that he will campaign for me as much as is
    keeping with his busy schedule. I'll be pleased to have him with me,
    both from raising money and the much-needed finances for the campaign
    and addressing the challenging issues that face this country. I'm
    pleased to have him as is--as it fits into his busy schedule.
        Kelly.

    Vice Presidential Candidates/2008 Presidential Election

        Q. Mr. President, Senator McCain--sir, how would you counsel Senator
    McCain to choose a runningmate? How quickly? And given the fact that
    Democrats will field a nominee who will make some kind of history--a
    woman, an African American--should Republicans consider that in
    selecting a Vice Presidential nominee?
        The President. I'd tell him to be careful about who he names to be
    the head of the selection committee. [Laughter] Look, now, he's got
    plenty of experience. He knows what he needs to do, which is to have a
    process that vets candidates, and the person--it's got to be somebody
    he's going to be comfortable with and somebody whose advice he relies
    upon. And he can answer his own question on that, but----
        Sen. McCain. Could I just say, Kelly, I didn't think it was
    appropriate to contemplate this process, as I've discussed before, until
    after we had secured the nomination of the party. Now we'll begin that
    process.
        Q. Should history make a difference with a woman or an African
    American on the Democratic side?
        The President. People don't vote for Vice Presidents, as much as I
    hate to say that for those who have been candidates for Vice President.
    They're going to vote for who gets to sit inside that Oval Office and
    make decisions on how to protect the country and keep taxes low and how
    to have a culture that respects the dignity of every human being. And
    that's what the race is all about. I know there's going to be a lot of
    speculation on who the Vice President, this and that, but the
    speculation is over about who our party is going to nominate.
        Sen. McCain. Liz [Liz Sidoti, Associated Press].

    [[Page 326]]

    President's Endorsement/Presidential Campaign

        Q. Mr. President, do you--how much do you intend to do for Senator
    McCain? And do you think, in some cases, that your help could actually
    hurt him more than help him?
        The President. Look, if it--if my showing up and endorsing him helps
    him, or if I'm against him and it helps him, either way, I want him to
    win. [Laughter] You know, look, this is an age-old question that you--
    every President has had to answer, and there's an appropriate amount of
    campaigning for me to do.
        But they're not going to be voting for me. I've had my time in the
    Oval Office. It's been a fabulous experience, by the way. And they're
    going to be voting for the next person to come in here and make the
    tough decisions about America: America's security, America's prosperity,
    and you know, America's hopefulness. That's what this race is about, and
    it's not about me. You know, I've done my bit.
        And by the way, I'm not through, and I'm going to do a lot. And John
    is right; I do have a day job to keep, and I plan on keeping it. I've
    told the people that follow me in this press corps that I'm going to
    sprint to the finish, and I mean what I say. I've got a lot to do. But
    I'm going to find ample time to help, and I can help in raising money,
    and if he wants my pretty face standing by his side at one of these
    rallies, I'll be glad to show up.
        But they're going to be looking at him, you know. I'm going to be in
    Crawford--[laughter]--with my feet up. He's going to be sitting in there
    behind that desk making the decisions on war and peace, and I'm thankful
    our party has nominated somebody plenty capable of making those
    decisions. And when the American people take a hard look, they're going
    to feel comfortable, like I feel comfortable, in recommending him to
    take my place.
        Listen, we thank you.
        Wolf [Richard Wolf, USA Today], where's Wolf? No, I'm not calling
    you. Wolf. No, not you either. Where's Wolf?
        Q. Right here.
        The President. Well, go ask something, will you? [Laughter]
        Q. Where do you think you can be most helpful campaigning for him
    around the country?
        The President. You know, look--I mean, if----
        Q. And, Senator McCain, where would you like the President to
    campaign with you?
        The President. As I told you, you know, if he wants me to show up, I
    will. If he wants me to say, ``You know, I'm not for him,'' I will.
    Whatever he wants me to do, I want him to win. And, you know, Wolf, I
    don't know where. I mean, look----
        Sen. McCain. Could I start out with----
        The President. I'm focusing on, you know, protecting America and
    succeeding in Iraq and dealing with the North Korean and dealing with the Iranian and dealing with the issues around the world where
    we're making a difference in terms of keeping peace. I want to get this
    in as good as a position as possible so that when John McCain is the
    President--and he will be--he can deal with these issues in a way that
    yields peace.
        Sen. McCain. Wolf, could I say, I--one State springs to mind: Texas.
    [Laughter]
        The President. He's not going to need me in Texas. He's going to be
    a landslide in Texas.
        Sen. McCain. Could I just say that I do intend to campaign all
    across this country. I think that literally every section in this
    country is at play--in play. And I will be glad to have the President
    with me, in keeping with his schedule, in any part of America. And we're
    going to go everywhere in America with this campaign.
        The President. Listen, thank you all very much for coming.
        Q. Did you talk names for Vice President? [Laughter]

    [[Page 327]]

        Q. One press conference every week if you're elected, Senator?
        The President. Thank you all very much. It's been a pleasure to see
    you. Obviously, we've invited some unruly members of the fourth estate
    here. I'm disappointed in the conduct of some of the people that have
    come. I told John it would be a nice and polite crowd. Thank you all
    very much.
        Sen. McCain. Thank you.

    Note: The President spoke at 1:10 p.m. in the Rose Garden at the White
    House. In his remarks, he referred to Chairman Kim Jong Il of North
    Korea; and President Mahmud Ahmadi-nejad of Iran.