Former President Bush sends videotaped thanks to McCain
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.
He is grateful for McCain's rallying of support for President Bush's Iraq policy, she said. The former president "definitely supported what he was saying and his support for the troops."
Bush considers McCain "a good friend, but he also considers Rudy Giuliani, Mitt Romney and Fred Thompson good friends," Becker said.
She said Bush spoke without a script, ad-libbing the brief remarks.
- CNN Political Desk Managing Editor Steve Brusk
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How ironic coming from the Bush camp... Is it the same John McCain from S.C in 2003?
Why doesn't George tell it to someone who might believe his bull or someone who actually cares!
McCain will now likely thank George Publicly not realizing it will kill any possible votes he might have left.
Anyone who is with George Bush is against Liberty, Freedom, Deomocracy, and World Peace.
Mccain needs to retire, in person his face looks like an alligator
Aside from being a mental mess, he looks like death warmed over!
Something is wrong with him. He talks too slow and to low. He reminds me of a mummy.
Petraeus betrayed us and McCain is beneath disdain for his stubborn support of a stubborn President's endless unwinnable refereeing of a religious civil war.
I think we should send the Bushs and McCains to Iraq for GOOD!!!
If you care so much about Iraq move there!
What no "stay the course" or "read my lips"?No "user fees" or "thousand points of light"?
He's not endorsing McCain,he's endorsing his idiot son!
No surprise here. The real McCain story is how he has chosen to be a "NO SHOW" at the two forums representing people of color. Tavis Smiley and Univision which, represent the Hispanic and Black communities. He is sadly mistaken if he thinks he can be elected in 2008 by ignoring people of color!
Apparently Bush Sr., the mastermind behind the war and other things, wants McCain to lose or just has nothing else to lose and wants to make some fun of the Senator.
i can't watch the video yet. but i will say that america is in suieors trouble. the terrorist won. usa is bankrupct, and steady trying to fight a war that cannot be won.add mccain to that equation...then watch us reach nirvana.