Bush has already won an endorsement from primary rival Steve Forbes. Now Bush’s staff is asking for policy advice from the Forbes team on key issues like health care. John McCain, however, remains aloof and a potential long-term problem. At the suggestion of former senator Bob Dole, Bush recently phoned McCain. After some polite chit-chat, Bush made what he was told would be a hard-to-refuse offer. Would McCain join him at lunch with Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Ridge, a Vietnam vet and close McCain friend? Too busy, said McCain, even when Bush offered a plane to pick him up.
McCain, meanwhile, will gas up the Straight Talk Express in July for one more trip–from Washington to the GOP convention in Philadelphia. That could spell trouble for Bush. McCain controls enough delegates to force floor votes. McCain also plans to campaign widely for GOP candidates, collecting political chits for a possible future White House bid.
