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Romney 'will support McCain bid' Romney endorses McCain campaign
(40 minutes later)
Former Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney is expected to endorse his former rival John McCain. Former Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney has endorsed John McCain's White House bid.
The former Massachusetts governor dropped out of the race for the White House nomination last week. Speaking at his headquarters in Boston, the former Massachusetts governor said he was "honoured to give his full support" to "a true American hero".
Reports say he will ask the 280 delegates, whose support he won at primary elections during his campaign, to support Mr McCain. Mr Romney had attracted strong conservative support before he dropped out of the race for the White House nomination last week.
Mr McCain is leading the Republican contest for the nomination ahead of Mike Huckabee and Ron Paul. Mr McCain is widely expected to be the eventual Republican nominee.
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. He has asked the 280 delegates, whose support he won at primary elections, to give their backing to Mr McCain.
'Need to unite' Mr McCain is leading the contest for nomination as the Republican presidential candidate, ahead of Mike Huckabee and Ron Paul.
"Romney has decided to endorse McCain and it could happen as early as this afternoon," said Kevin Madden, a spokesman for Mr Romney. Mr McCain is expected to be the eventual Republican nomineeThe BBC's North America editor Justin Webb says Mr McCain will almost certainly be the eventual Republican nominee, having already secured 843 of the 1,191 delegates he needs to win the nomination.
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 [Democratic candidates] 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. Meanwhile, Hillary Clinton has been campaigning for the Democratic Party nomination in Ohio, which will stage a primary election on 4 March.
Mrs Clinton is trailing Mr Obama with 1,220 delegates to his 1,275. Mrs Clinton is trailing Barack Obama with 1,220 delegates to his 1,275.