WASHINGTON (CNN) - John McCain called Mitt Romney shortly after the former Massachusetts governor announced he was quitting his presidential bid, CNN has learned.
According to a senior McCain adviser, McCain told Romney that he "admired his speech today and that he was a tough competitor." McCain also told Romney he looks forward to sitting down with him at the earliest opportunity.
McCain did not ask Romney for his endorsement.
This McCain adviser also said the Arizona senator will soon call Mike Huckabee as well, but that "Huckabee will be making the decisions he will make."
We're also told McCain will reach out to Romney's supporters and ask for their votes when he speaks at the top of the hour at the Conservative Political Action Committee conference.
"John McCain is the presumptive nominee of the Republican party now," said the McCain adviser, "he will make that clear and also make clear he intends to unite the party."
– CNN's Dana Bash
Related: Watch McCain discuss Romney suspending his campaign and uniting the GOP
From CNN Politics
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Billary and their VP Obama, have no chance.
Ya i know exactly what McCain told Romney on the phone..!
"Dont worry my friend, I will continue the war in Iraq forever and ship more jobs overseas."
People who call themselves "conservative" need to get over this irrational fear based belief that the war in Iraq is making us any safer from terrorism, and VOTE RON PAUL! McCain was the worst cadidate in the entire primary, yet he is somehow winning. He has promised less jobs and more war, and is getting votes. Stop with the irrational war mongering, you neocons, or the Republican party is dead.
This McCain is scary. George Bush is mild manner Clark Kent compared to how this McCain will be if he ever got his hands near the red buttons of the white house, of the nation. I wonder if he takes his Aricept daily because he sure doesn't act like he does. And why are so many Republicans hating this guy? Weird.
Now its Time for HUCKABEE to turn up the steam....If he could be nominated i would vote for him but if not i'm sticking with HILLARY....hmmmmm HILLARY/HUCKABEE sounds kinda good
McCain calls Romney,and Romney calls McCain a liberal....
The sooner McCain becomes the nominee, the sooner the Democrats need to get their house in order. At this point, I believe it is time for Senator Clinton to step aside and let the Democrats unite behind Senator Obama who presents something very different for the country than she does.
Hillary is better than Mccain. This is terrible.
I don't trust McCain and I doubt I ever will.
This is terrible news! Now we have absolutely NO choice....all liberals. Obama is not ready, McCain is too old and NOT a Republican...Huckabee is a joke....well, Congratulations, Hillary.
I think it is about time that the far right absurdely conservative wing of the GOP recognize that the rest of us that are more moderate represent the true interests of a majority of Americans in the Republican Party and of the country as a whole. Its about time that conservative talk radio stop blasting at McCain and recognize that he can move the GOP forward from the stalemate it has been under with President Bush for the last 8 years.
Well congrats Dems, all of a sudden we went from a united Democratic party and a divided Republican party to the complete opposite. Want to know why? Its the reason Republicans are so hard to beat. Cause they vote the party and dems vote the man. All you Obama supporters called Hilary conceded because of her "invulnerable" strategy. It was actually a brilliant general election strategy, but good for you guys throwing on the mud so Mr. Hope could get his chance. If you could have just accepted another Clinton (you might remember the last one gave you two victories) this would be over. But oh no, your to smart for that. Enjoy being John McCain's surrender monkeys for the next year.
McCain's position on the Iraq War seals the fate of the republican party's chances for winning in November.
The country dislikes it, and the dislike grows as the truth finally seeps out from current the current adminstration.
And everyday it continues, more soliders die, more Iraqi civilians are killed and our deficit grows astronomically. The war will be lost because America bankrupted itself.
James S Roberts
And when will he be calling Ron Paul?
If Obama becomes the nominee the Dem's better watch out. McCain will tear him up on foreign policy and the Iraq war. He may be likable, but he has no experience in these fields, and it will kill him in the general election
If Mr O is the Democratic nomiee,my family are going to vote for you.
We call Mccain things also, but they Are Not Printable, Neither is he a Republican Candidate. Mccains a Liberal Democrat. we now will focus on Ron Paul for the Primary.
McCain: "Hello, Mitt."
Romney: "Boo hoo...sniffle sniffle..."
McCain: "Heya, Mitt. How about lending me a few million bucks for the rest of the campaign? Ya can't lose lending to a hero."
Romney: "Boo hoo...sniffle sniffle ... check or money order?"
thank goodness for romney bowing how! i say mccain/huckabee '08! the unbeatable ticket!
One down one left, for Huckabee to unite the United States!
Ann Coulter, Rush Limbaugh, Pat Robertson, my Parents and my Husband hate McCain!
The only way the Democrats will lose now is if they nominate Hillary.
is that a change the american people are yauning for when Mcain stays alone in the race?
Congrats America, you will be putting the Bush number 3 in office and more people will die in the middle east. Congrats. I hope your son or daughter is not next in line to die in the war for a useless war against a faceless enemy called Terror.
Forget it John Mcain–I am sick of taxpayers building new schools in Iraq when our are falling down.
GO Obama or Clinton. I can live with either one of them–II hope to goodness I don't have to go through another Republican administration./My FRIEND Mcain would do anything to win. I don't believe anything he says. He thinks we are all stupid.
The Vietnam war is over people but John McCain will still be fighting that same war in Iraq and you can look forward to a nuclear war with Iran. Please, Please don't vote this man in office, I'd rather see Bush stay.