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Romney 'will support McCain bid' Romney 'will support McCain bid'
(about 1 hour later)
The former Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney is expected to endorse his former rival John McCain. Former Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney is expected to endorse his former rival John McCain.
The former Massachusetts governor dropped out of the race for the White House nomination last week.The former Massachusetts governor dropped out of the race for the White House nomination last week.
Reports says he will ask the 280 delegates, whose support he won at primary elections during his campaign, to support Mr McCain. Reports say he will ask the 280 delegates, whose support he won at primary elections during his campaign, to support Mr McCain.
Mr McCain is leading the Republican contest for the nomination ahead of Mike Huckabee and Ron Paul.Mr McCain is leading the Republican contest for the nomination ahead of Mike Huckabee and Ron Paul.
The BBC's North American editor Justin Webb says Mr McCain will almost certainly be the eventual Republican nominee, having already secured 843 of the 1,191 delegates available.
'Need to unite'
"Romney has decided to endorse McCain and it could happen as early as this afternoon," said Kevin Madden, a spokesman for Mr Romney."Romney has decided to endorse McCain and it could happen as early as this afternoon," said Kevin Madden, a spokesman for Mr Romney.
Mr Madden told Reuters the endorsement would take place at around 1600 local time (2100 GMT) at Mr Romney's campaign headquarters in Boston.Mr Madden told Reuters the endorsement would take place at around 1600 local time (2100 GMT) at Mr Romney's campaign headquarters in Boston.
Mr Romney withdrew his candidacy last week saying that if he continued to fight he would "forestall the launch of a national campaign and make it more likely that Senator Clinton or Obama would win".Mr Romney withdrew his candidacy last week saying that if he continued to fight he would "forestall the launch of a national campaign and make it more likely that Senator Clinton or Obama would win".
On Friday, Mr McCain appealed for the support of "dedicated conservatives" in the Republican party, saying he had a responsibility to "unite the party" in preparation for November's elections.On Friday, Mr McCain appealed for the support of "dedicated conservatives" in the Republican party, saying he had a responsibility to "unite the party" in preparation for November's elections.
Meanwhile Hillary Clinton has been campaigning for the Democratic Party in Ohio, which will stage a primary on 4 March.
Mrs Clinton is trailing Mr Obama with 1,220 delegates to his 1,275.