McCain reaches out to conservatives

WASHINGTON, Feb. 7 (UPI) -- Republican presidential front-runner Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., said Thursday he and former rival Mitt Romney agreed to meet and discuss party unity.

"We agreed to sit down together and we agreed on the importance to unite our party," McCain told the Conservative Political Action Conference in Washington.

His remarks followed Romney's appearance, during which the former Massachusetts governor said he was suspending his campaign.

"I am proud to be a conservative," said McCain, seeking conservatives' support after being accused of not being conservative enough.

McCain said he recognizes, "I have the responsibility ... to unite the party and prepare for the great contest in November" if selected as the Republican presidential nominee.

"And I am acutely aware that I cannot succeed in that endeavor, nor can our party prevail over the challenge we will face ... without the support of dedicated conservatives," he said.

He stressed what he called his conservative bona fides -- support for small government, fiscal discipline, low taxes, strong defense and "judges who enforce, and not make, our laws."

He said he and conservatives had and will have "a few disagreements," but he said "even in disagreement, especially in disagreement, I will seek the counsel of my fellow conservatives."