Conservatives reluctantly backing McCain

WASHINGTON, April 21 (UPI) -- Conservatives may be warming to the presidential bid of Arizona Sen. John McCain because of the fear of a Democrat winning the presidency, GOP leaders say.

Despite a less-than bombastic enthusiasm for the McCain platform by rank-and-file conservatives, few voices on the right express outright disdain for the GOP candidate, the Politico said Monday.

"We've all had our differences with John McCain," said Rep. Mike Pence, R-Ind. "But Senator McCain is reaching to the right, and the right is reaching back."

Grover Norquist of the conservative movement said one reason for increased acceptance of McMain is a fear of either Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-N.Y., or Sen. Barack Obama, D.-Ill., winning the presidency in November.