The second will come when the Democrats pick their candidate. Many Republicans relish the prospect of a campaign against either Sen. Barack Obama, whom they view as disturbingly liberal, or Sen. Hillary Clinton, who is considered to be polarizing.
"He will have an opponent who is going to be far left," Mooney said.
Del. Christopher B. Shank, the state House Republican whip from Western Maryland, said that suggestions from some that Republicans reject McCain or vote for Clinton were "absolute lunacy."
"A lot of this talk about not supporting John McCain is coming from the talking heads who are not as connected to the grass roots as they think they are," said Shank, a Huckabee backer who saw his favored candidate nearly win in Washington County last month.
After delegates from Texas mathematically assured his nomination, McCain took major steps yesterday toward bringing various elements of the Republican Party under his control.
At the White House, Bush praised McCain's "courage and strength of character and perseverance" and pledged to support him in any way the senator wants.
"I'm going to find ample time to help," Bush said. "And I could help raising money. And if he wants my pretty face standing by his side at one of these rallies, I'll be glad to show up."
McCain brushed aside concerns that an association with Bush - whose approval rating remains in the low 30s - could do more harm than good.
"I hope that he'll campaign for me as much as is in keeping with his busy schedule," McCain said.
Later, at Republican National Committee headquarters, Chairman Mike Duncan said the party had $25 million in available cash to promote McCain's candidacy, as well as research and other resources.
Overall, Maryland Republicans backed McCain over Huckabee 55 percent to 29 percent in last month's primary. The outcome fit the state's long pattern of supporting moderate or pragmatic Republicans, including former Sen. Charles McC. Mathias Jr. and Governors Theodore R. McKeldin, Spiro T. Agnew and Robert L. Ehrlich Jr.
But McCain's support from Maryland Republican leaders has been weak. His backers note with wistfulness that many of the 20 at-large McCain delegates and alternates that Maryland will send to the national convention in Minneapolis-St. Paul this summer will have switched allegiances from other candidates. In short, there aren't enough prominent McCain allies to fill the spots.
