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St Paul, Minnesota: President George W. Bush praised John McCain's "independence and character" in a brief Republican National Convention speech designed to offer some distance between the unpopular president and his would-be successor.
Bush's address, delivered via satellite link from the White House, marked a significantly diminished role from earlier plans to have the president address the convention on Monday in the prestigious final speaker slot.
Bush lauded McCain as Republicans tried to put their national convention back on track after the distractions of Hurricane Gustav and jarring disclosures about vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin.
A larger-than-life image of Bush speaking from the White House was seen on the convention floor, projected in a way that made it appear as if Bush actually were on the stage. Bush praised McCain as an "independent man who thinks for himself."
Bush had cancelled his original speech plans to be closer to hurricane preparations. The party eventually scrapped most of its first-day activities as well.
The storm proved less devastating than had been feared, and Republicans scrambled to revive a convention aimed at convincing Americans that McCain, a veteran senator, has the wisdom and experience to guide the United States through uncertain times, and Democratic rival Barack Obama does not.
Bush's cameo appearance was highly unusual for a two-term president addressing his party's convention as he prepared to leave office. Asked if convention planners said Bush should not come, White House press secretary Dana Perino said, "I wouldn't put it that way. We were in touch with them, and we were trying to figure out what would work best for them and what would work best for the president."
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