[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.