Boehner endorses McCain - updated

UPDATED 6 p.m.

Here's the Democratic reaction:

With Friends Like These...Boehner Says McCain's Ideas Are "%$*!," Voinovich Says He Can't Manage

(COLUMBUS)- Today John McCain announced the endorsement of Ohio Republican and House Minority Leader Rep. John Boehner, a man who described John McCain's immigration plan as a "piece of %$*!." Boehner's lukewarm nod for Senator McCain comes on the heels of another mixed bag endorsement from Ohio Senator George Voinovich, who recently told the Cincinnati Enquirer that McCain was "sorely lacking in management experience."

"John McCain's two biggest Ohio supporters have informed us that the Senator can't manage and that his ideas are garbage," said Ohio Democratic Party Chairman Chris Redfern. "Despite his shameless pandering to the far right and promises of a third Bush term, John McCain's doubletalk is clearly alienating everyone, even members of his own base."

BACKGROUND:

Boehner: Immigration Bill Is...
http://hotlineblog.nationaljournal.com/archives/2007/05/post_211.html
Voinovich: McCain Can't Manage
http://frontier.cincinnati.com/blogs/gov/2008/02/voinovich-mccain-cant-manage.asp

Diana Marrero of Gannett News Service reports:

WASHINGTON - Celebrating fresh victories in Virginia, Maryland and the District of Columbia, John McCain spoke to House Republicans Wednesday in an effort to shore up support among conservative leaders.

McCain, who has often clashed with Republican leaders, said he was ready to unite his party. His speech at the Capitol Hill Club marked his second day on Capitol Hill trying to convince his congressional colleagues to rally around him.

House Republican leader John Boehner of West Chester, who previously said he would not endorse the Arizona senator because he was chairing the GOP convention, threw his support to McCain after the speech Wednesday, saying he would be the eventual candidate.

"Clearly I've had some disagreements with Sen. McCain over the years," he said, going on to praise McCain for his unwavering support for the war in Iraq. "That type of leadership takes courage."

McCain addressed Republican senators, including those who have traded barbs with him, during their policy lunch on Tuesday.

Asked how it felt to return to his day job as a senator, McCain joked that he was "an outcast and a pariah."

"My colleagues have embraced me," he said.

McCain won Tuesday's "Potomac Primary" but did not receive support among conservative voters in Virginia, who largely voted for Mike Huckabee.

The former Arkansas governor and Baptist preacher has been described as an "irritant" by the McCain campaign. But McCain said Wednesday that he respected Huckabee's right to stay in the race.

"He is a man of integrity," McCain said. "He has every right to continue this race for as long as he wants to. In the meantime, we will be trying to gather more support and more momentum for the campaign."

Even so, McCain is trying to turn his attention to the general election, saying Wednesday that "there is going to come a time when we have to get into specifics" -- a jab at Democrat Barack Obama whose message of hope has appealed to many voters.

"I believe that I and my party, which is a center right conservative outlook, will prevail over the big government, big spending Democrats," he said.