(CNN) - CNN has learned that John McCain will travel to Texas, most likely next week, to accept the endorsement of former President George H. W. Bush.
The campaign is working on the scheduling with the former president's office but the goal is for an event in Texas next week, accordoing to two Republican sources familiar with the discussions.
The endorsement is part of the Republican rally around McCain nationally. But it is also aimed especially at Texas, where voters will weigh in March 4.
There is a vocal faction of social conservatives in the state who regularly sparred with President George W. Bush during his presidency and his days as governor.
The former President Bush is no favorite of these social conservatives either, but his embrace is being orchestrated as an important signal to the state's broader Republican establishment that it is important to back McCain and participate in the primary.
–CNN Chief National Correspondent John King
Bill Clinton said former president George H.W. Bush will help fix damage done to America's reputation by his son, George W. Bush.
ORANGEBURG, South Carolina (CNN) – Former President Bill Clinton said Monday that the first thing his wife Hillary will do when she reaches the White House is dispatch him and his predecessor, President George H.W. Bush, on an around-the-world mission to repair the damage done to America's reputation by the current president - Bush's son, George W. Bush.
"Well, the first thing she intends to do, because you can do this without passing a bill, the first thing she intends to do is to send me and former President Bush and a number of other people around the world to tell them that America is open for business and cooperation again," Clinton said in response to a question from a supporter about what his wife's "number one priority" would be as president.
A spokesman for the George H. W. Bush said Tuesday afternoon the former president supports his son's foreign policy and has "never discussed an ‘around-the-world-mission’ with either former President Bill Clinton or Sen. Clinton." (Click here for the full statement)
Clinton and the elder Bush, rivals in the 1992 presidential election, have grown chummy in recent years, often traveling and appearing at public events together. In 2005, they started a charity to help victims of Hurricane Katrina.
UPDATE: The Republican National Committee issued this statement in response to Clinton's comments:
"In 2009, a Republican president will be working with our friends and allies abroad to continue to keep our nation safe," said RNC spokesman Danny Diaz. "The American people expect our leaders - both current and former - to present serious solutions to the very real challenges confronting our nation."
– CNN South Carolina Producer Peter Hamby
Clinton still has not clinched the Democratic nomination according to former President Bush.
(CNN)–Although some are ready to predict that Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-New York, will be the 2008 Democratic nominee, former president George H.W. Bush says not so fast.
"I had thought a few weeks ago that she was almost a gimme, as we say in golf, for the nomination. I'm not sure I feel that way now." Bush made the comments in an interview with Chris Wallace aired on 'Fox News Sunday.'
"There seems to be more kind of internal, in her own party–seems to be more willingness to take her on and argue about stuff," he said.
When Wallace asked Bush whether his friendship with former president Bill Clinton, would make it more likely for him to be less critical of Clinton's wife, Bush disagreed. "I do have a good relationship with Bill Clinton, and I've enjoyed working with him on charitable causes, Katrina and tsunami and all fo this. And I might say I even enjoying playing golf with the guy," he said. "But just as he's not going to tiptoe about his differences with [President George W. Bush], I wouldn't tiptoe with my differences with him."
Former Presidents Clinton and Bush both traveled together extensively in the aftermath of the 2004 tsunami in Asia, and Hurricane Katrina in 2005, to raise money and awareness for recovery efforts.
Bush, the father of President George W. Bush, and former Florida governor Jeb Bush, taped the interview at his presidential library on the campus of Texas A&M University in College Station, Texas.
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– CNN Political Desk Editor Jamie Crawford
Biden will take a break from his Iowa efforts to campaign in South Carolina on Monday.
COLUMBIA, South Carolina (CNN) – Sen. Joe Biden will use Monday's campaign swing through South Carolina to pick up two state legislative endorsements, his campaign tells CNN.
Biden will announce at a news conference at the State House in Columbia that he has picked up the endorsements of Democratic Reps. Jim Battle and Vida Miller. Both have served in the state legislature since 1997.
Biden now has six legislative endorsements in South Carolina.
– CNN South Carolina Producer Peter Hamby
Former President Bush made a surprise appearance at a McCain event Monday in South Carolina.
(CNN) - There was a surprise guest, albeit by videotape, at the final stop of John McCain's "No Surrender" tour in South Carolina on Monday night.
Former President George H.W. Bush spoke to the crowd at The Citadel in Charleston, thanking McCain for "standing tall" in his support of the war in Iraq.
"The bottom line is we must persevere, we must not surrender. We must not quit and run away," Bush said. "God bless our troops and everyone involved in the 'No Surrender' rally there in Charleston."
The Bush camp was quick to point out the appearance was not an endorsement of McCain, and was a one-time-only event.
Bush spokeswoman Jean Becker told CNN Bush was asked to make the tape by his longtime close friend Robert Mosbacher, the former Commerce Secretary and party fund-raiser who backs McCain and is serving as his general chairman.
The timing of McCain trip, following Gen. David Petreaus' report to Congress and the president's speech Thursday on war policy, is what led Bush to agree to the taping, she said.
Watch George H. W. Bush tee off Wednesday.
WASHINGT0N (CNN) - Former President George Bush teed it up with golf great Tiger Woods Wednesday to kick of the AT&T Earl Woods Memorial Pro-Am.
The tournament, organized by Tiger Woods and held at Congressional Country Club in Bethesda, Maryland, begins Thursday.
"There's a no laughing rule in effect - If anyone laughs when I hit it they are dead," Bush joked before he teed off. "We got the Secret Service here to look after me."
From CNN Politics
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