Romney to Urge His Delegates to Back Mccain

John McCain's hold on the Republican nomination became even tighter yesterday when he received the unexpected endorsement of his previously bitter rival, Mitt Romney.

With the Republican party closing ranks in preparation for the November election to the White House, Romney put aside his political and personal differences to back McCain.

Romney, who dropped out of the race last Thursday, proposed that the 288 delegates he accumulated in the earlier contests should switch their support to McCain. Romney released them from their pledges.

Not all of them will go to McCain but if enough do, McCain will be close to the 1,191 he needs to wrap up the contest. McCain has 843 at present.

In a joint appearance in Boston, Romney played down the personal dislike that exists between them: "Even when the contest was close and our disagreements were debated, the caliber of the man was apparent."

He said he had never lost sight of McCain's qualities as a leader in time of war and, unlike the Democratic candidates, he was a real American hero.

McCain, who had during the contest complained about Romney's underhanded tactics, yesterday described him as having fought "an honorable" campaign. He added that primaries were often tough and hard and he had emerged from the battle with Romney as a better candidate.

Romney's endorsement opens the way for him to join McCain later in the year as the vice-presidential candidate. McCain said he expected Romney to campaign alongside him later this year.

McCain and Romney cut the press conference short to avoid answering questions about a vice-presidential running mate.

Romney's more conservative background would help McCain, who is more moderate, with the Republican party base.But the personal animosity that exists between them would make it awkward for them to run together. Romney may instead be presenting himself as a party loyalist, preparing the ground for another bid for the nomination in four years should McCain fail to win the White House.

McCain and Romney had not spoken to one another since Romney pulled out last week. The endorsement was negotiated by their senior advisers.

The endorsement adds to pressure on Mike Huckabee, who is still in the race, though trailing badly, to drop out. Ron Paul, too, is still in the race but is a marginal figure.

Although Huckabee insists he will continue, McCain is uncatchable, even before Romney proposed his delegates switch.

Romney quit the race after coming second-best to McCain in the Super Tuesday contests.

During the early primaries and caucuses, the relationship between McCain and Romney turned to mutual loathing. McCain was angered by Romney running a series of expensive negative television ads. Romney, in turn, became upset by what he saw as dirty tactics by McCain in misrepresenting his position on Iraq.