News article on McCain from 2000 - pointedly did not endorse bush

[The Straight Story]

But his record has not been entirely glorious. His marriage to his first wife, who had waited for him to come back from Vietnam, fell apart after he had a number of affairs. He remarried in 1980.

And soon after entering the Senate he became embroiled in a scandal related to allegedly corrupt contributions to his and other political campaigns.

Others have claimed that McCain's stance on campaign finance reform does not meet proper scrutiny.

Launching his presidential campaign in September last year, McCain called for a "new patriotic challenge" that would fight "against the pervasive cynicism that is debilitating our democracy ... a fight to take our government back from the power brokers and special interests."

It was a powerful message and one that brought him early success in the influential New Hampshire primary.

Ultimately though that did not give him the momentum to see his campaign through against the might of the Bush machine.

Bowing out of the race after a poor showing in the Super Tuesday primaries he pointedly did not endorse Governor Bush as the Republican candidate, instead wishing him well for his campaign.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/in_depth/americas/2000/us_elections/profiles/576507.stm

[Make7]

1. Until two months later...

McCain endorses Bush, pledges whole-hearted support

May 9, 2000

PITTSBURGH (CNN) -- Former Republican presidential opponents John McCain and George W. Bush emerged all smiles from their long-anticipated meeting on Tuesday, as the Arizona senator not only endorsed Bush, but pledged to "enthusiastically" campaign for his once bitter rival.

http://archives.cnn.com/2000/ALLPOLITICS/stories/05/09/mccain.bush/index.html