Karl Rove Got His Stank On Me

The “Brain”?

Desperate, much?

McCain welcomes Bush help on campaign trail

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.”

In the 2000 campaign, McCain slyly challenged Bush in New Hampshire before and after the Texas governor won Iowa. As he did in this campaign, McCain worked the Granite State hard all summer and fall, holding endless town-hall meetings.

At breakfast on election day, adviser Karl Rove knew Bush would lose by 15 percentage points. The final was 19 points, a serious shellacking that seemed to give McCain’s “Straight Talk Express” momentum. But Bush stopped him three weeks later in South Carolina.

McCain ultimately endorsed the party’s victor.

In a recent interview on Fox, Bush declined to endorse any Republican yet but called McCain “a true conservative,” and said he would help the Arizonan if he wanted it, a subtle go-ahead signal to Bush’s allies. The president’s brother Jeb and Rove have now contributed to McCain’s campaign…

This man is in for a very tough, uphill battle.