Within minutes of McCain's announcement, Bush's team was reaching out to McCain intermediaries in an effort to mend fences. The rivals themselves spoke briefly by telephone, but settled nothing. Said to be still seething at the Texas governor, McCain is in no hurry to make peace. He planned to take a week's vacation before determining what leverage he has with Bush and what he might want to achieve with it, said a McCain adviser. With that goal in mind, McCain quit the race but didn't shut down his campaign - a technicality that keeps his options open to make things uncomfortable for Bush, who needs McCain's endorsement to unify the party.
Aides say that last option is remote.
One of McCain's top supporters said he urged the senator to let go of the enmity he feels toward Bush. McCain was the 10th Republican to leave the race. Bradley has been Gore's only challenger. They could not sustain momentum against the sheer force of their rivals' organizations. McCain had the most potent insurgency, staggering Bush in New Hampshire and Michigan.