President Bush on Friday delivered a spirited defense of his record in office to a group of conservative activists in Washington, urging them to back a like-minded candidate to succeed him.
The president did not mention GOP front-runner Sen. John McCain by name, nor did he take on the leading Democratic contenders for the nomination. But he said the American people support the conservative point of view.
"The stakes in November are high. This is an important election. Prosperity and peace are in the balance," Bush told about 2,000 people attending the Conservative Political Action Conference.
"So with confidence in our vision and faith in our values, let us go forward, fight for victory and keep the White House in 2008."
The president's remarks came one day after Republican Mitt Romney said he would suspend his campaign for the Republican nomination, a move that solidifies the candidacy of McCain.
Speaking to some of his most loyal supporters, the president also defended some of the decisions he has made in office, from cutting taxes and appointing conservative justices to leading an invasion of Iraq.
Bush declared that history would prove his course of action to be the right one. And he urged conservatives to help elect a like-minded successor.
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