CNN.com readers divided on Bush endorsement

(CNN) -- President Bush endorsed Sen. John McCain for president on Wednesday, just hours after the Arizona Republican picked up the delegates needed to win the party's nomination.

CNN.com readers were divided on whether Bush's support would help or hurt McCain with voters.

Some said it was only natural that Bush would endorse the Republican nominee, and that it would be disrespectful for McCain not to accept it.

Ajit Kapil of Chicago, Illinois, wrote it "will help allay suspicion conservatives have about McCain."

Other readers said that McCain should distance himself from the president and his policies and called the endorsement an "albatross," and "the kiss of death."

The endorsement won't make much difference at all to readers like Ashley Richardson of Tallahassee, Florida.

"The whole endorsement game seems silly to me," she wrote. "It's akin to people voting for particular candidates because their favorite celebrities are voting for them."

The following is a selection of opinions from CNN.com readers. Some have been edited for length or clarity:

Joel Lopez of West Covina, California
If McCain hopes to "change," like he's being saying, he needs to distance himself from the Bush administration. A backing by one of the most statistically unpopular presidents would only hurt his campaign and fuel the Democrats'.

Joe Haas of Cincinnati, Ohio
I think history will remember President George Bush as one of the greatest Presidents ever. I truly believe that this country could have fallen much greater, and (that) he prevented our collapse.

Daniel Schulte of Seattle, Washington
I don't see what the big deal is here. So Bush is claiming his support for McCain, did anybody out there think this wouldn't happen? If you really think about it, then one might be able to conclude that Bush doesn't really support him.

They are part of the same party that's all. If Bush had a list of 100 Republicans I doubt McCain would be in the top 99. The president now has no other choice.

Michelle P. of Lakeland, Florida
I have great respect for John McCain and I know that he is trying to get the support of the entire Republican Party behind him, but his need for the approval of President Bush I believe will bring a negative response from many.

Bush has destroyed our country in the last 8 years and we as a nation need a fresh start.

John McCain could be just that, but he needs to stay as far away from Bush as possible. Bush will only bring him down!

William Curtis of Abbeville, South Carolina
President Bush remains very popular outside newsrooms, San Francisco, Hollywood, and alternate lifestyle nightclubs.

His persona is similar to how he described Bill Clinton, a man who goes to bed each evening having tried his best for the U.S.A. that day.

I am sure his endorsement would be welcome by most Americans.

Joseph Weitzell of Las Cruces, New Mexico
If Senator McCain hopes to become the next President, he had best do three things, emphasize his differences with President Bush, minimize the similarities, and stay as far away physically as he can. As a "good" Republican, Bush should support this attitude.

Jack Challenor of Matteson, Illinois
He, President Bush, has no other option here. He has to throw his support behind his party nominee. If he does not he will open up the GOP to a lot of criticism and show enormous holes in the GOP party.

Neil Gale of Wilson, New York
Unfortunately it will be viewed as McCain being anointed to carry on the Bush policy. Defiantly opens the door for the democrats to use it against McCain and the party in the campaign. McCain needs to "just say no" to that endorsement.

Ashley Richardson of Tallahassee, Florida
Obviously any association with Bush will do more harm than good, but Bush is an incumbent Republican candidate, and the current President of the United States.

McCain can't exactly blow off the comments of the President, no matter how disliked the man is.

Much better to have a photo of the two of them shaking hands now, than in October.

Honestly, who else would Bush back? Hillary? Obama? Of course he'll back McCain, he's the Republican nominee.

Do the endorsements really matter? Did McCain win California because of the Terminator? The whole endorsement game seems silly to me. It's akin to people voting for particular candidates because their favorite celebrities are voting for them.

Janet Knoeppel of Huntington Beach, California
This may very well be the "kiss of death" for the McCain campaign. With the extremely low ratings that Bush continues to receive, McCain should rethink this endorsement.

Robert Morley of Kiel, Wisconsin
President Bush's endorsement at this point may or may not help Senator McCain, but twenty years from now people will see what President Bush has done for the country and see him as one of the greatest U.S. presidents!

Roger Plachy of Winston-Salem, North Carolina
McCain is the man now. Bush's support will shore up the right, especially because McCain needs to pick a moderate for a running mate so that the Republicans will be in a better position to deal with workable Democrats. Besides, Bush and McCain need to work out a plan so that Bush makes moves that will benefit the Republican campaign.

Aaron White of Chicago, Illinois
I think Bush's endorsement will only give fodder to the Democrats. The only supporters that Bush has left are the right wing conservatives, and they've plainly given their opinion of McCain.

However, they were going to vote for the Republican candidate anyway, as they can't see past social issues, and have time-and-again voted against their economic interests.

The moderates, who don't particularly care for the current Republican administration, were going to vote for McCain anyway because of his more moderate views.

The harm will come from the independents, as they have been turning against Bush's policies in Iraq, and his endorsement will only leave them with a sour taste in their mouths.

Lane Stephenson of McKinney, Texas
I look for a quick and carefully worded endorsement, then watching Bush slip back into the shadows for the remainder of the campaign. I don't expect McCain to use the Bush name much in campaign speeches or debates.

Between the war, the state of the economy and daily gasoline price hikes, the Republicans are not going to want the "stink" of the Bush legacy provide debate fodder or otherwise taint McCain.

Higher than expected voter turnout at the Democratic primaries (at least here in Texas), show that McCain can't afford even the smallest misstep if he plans on winning in November.

Jan Terhune of Indianapolis, Indiana
I think the endorsement will hurt. There are so many Americans (Republicans included), who have found great disappointment in the Bush administration. I believe we need change and that the Bush endorsement will have a negative effect on McCain.

He needs to distance himself.

Ajit Kapil of Chicago, Illinois
President Bush's endorsement will help McCain. The president is popular with conservative Republicans, and this will help allay suspicion conservatives have about McCain. Democrats on the left will, of course, try to use this against McCain, but then McCain is not counting on them to vote for him.

Gail Vohland of Bowling Green, Ohio
I think McCain accepting Bush's support is just another sign that he has sold out to the Republican machine. I liked McCain 7 years ago when he actually spoke his own mind, but those days are obviously long gone.

John Struck of Lake Ridge, Virginia
John McCain is stuck between a rock and a hard place.

Although President Bush currently is unpopular, if McCain did not go receive Bush's blessing the Democrats would make an issue of it. Since McCain will go see President Bush, they will make an issue of it.

Either way McCain has a reputation for being an independent and he should be able to deflect any criticism.

Senator McCain is showing respect to a fellow Republican who holds the office of president. McCain should be respected for this. E-mail to a friend

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