Romney endorses McCain as Clinton raps Obama

BOSTON (Reuters) - Former Republican presidential hopefulMitt Romney endorsed one-time rival John McCain on Thursday andurged Republicans to unite behind him in a move that could helpMcCain with disgruntled conservatives.

In the Democratic race, Sen. Hillary Clinton accusedsurging opponent Barack Obama of lacking substance andexperience as she fought for political traction in Ohio after astring of losses.

After a rough campaign battle between them to be theparty's nominee in November's election, Romney set aside hisdifferences and offered conciliatory language to McCain a weekafter dropping out of the race, calling him an American hero.

"Even when the contest was close and our disagreements weredebated, the calibre of the man was apparent," Romney said withMcCain at his side. "This is a man capable of leading ourcountry at a dangerous hour."

McCain said it was a hard campaign but "now we move forwardtogether for the good of our party and our nation."

"We had differences on specific issues, but there was neverany doubt about the common philosophy and principles anddedication to the party of Abraham Lincoln, Theodore Rooseveltand Ronald Reagan that we share," he said.

Romney, 61, and McCain, 71, had battled bitterly over whowas the real conservative in the race, culminating in a causticdebate in California on January 30.

But all that was set aside when the two men got together inBoston for a formal endorsement ceremony, a move intended toencourage Republican conservatives long distrustful of McCainto unite behind the all-but-certain nominee.

"I still have my views, the senator has his views, but as aparty we come together," Romney said. "We can't possiblyincorporate all views of all Republicans into one individual,because we have differing views."

If all of Romney's 282 delegates were added to McCain's822, it would give McCain 1,104 and put him within easy reachof the 1,191 needed for nomination, although Romney's delegatesare not necessarily bound by his recommendations.

Conservatives consider McCain a turncoat for his moderateviews on illegal immigration and for having originally votedagainst President George W. Bush's tax cuts, and persuadingthem to generate voter turnout for him in the November electionwill be a central challenge.

McCain still faces opposition from former Arkansas Gov.Mike Huckabee, who has picked up the support of someconservatives who had been backing Romney.

REPUBLICANS UNITING, DEMOCRATS BATTLING

While Republicans were busily trying to unite, Clinton wastrying to stop Obama's wave of momentum.

Brandishing a pair of blue boxing gloves given to her at aGeneral Motors automobile plant, Clinton portrayed herself as afighter and Obama as someone who makes a lot of speeches thatsound good but do not offer solutions.

"That's the difference between me and my opponent. Myopponent makes speeches. I offer solutions. It is one thing toget people excited. I want to empower you," the New Yorksenator said.

Clinton, the one-time front-runner for her party'snomination who now finds herself in political peril,intensified her attack as she was forced to scramble forsweeping victories in Ohio and Texas on March 4 and inPennsylvania on April 22.

She focused on an area that some Democratic strategists sayis a weak spot for Illinois Sen. Obama -- his tendency to giveuplifting, inspirational speeches that offer little in the wayof specifics about how he would lead the United States ifelected.

The rhetoric comes days after Clinton shook up the toplevel of her campaign staff and is attempting to re-energizeher White House bid, as Obama rides a wave of momentum from awinning streak that reached eight states in a row on Tuesday.

A new poll showed that at this point, she is in a strongposition in Ohio and Pennsylvania.

The Quinnipiac University poll said she leads Obama 55percent to 34 percent among likely Democratic voters in Ohio,and 52 percent to 36 percent in Pennsylvania.

(Additional reporting by Caren Bohan with Clinton and JasonSzep in Boston, Writing by Steve Holland, editing by DavidWiessler)