Gary Bauer Backs McCain

Presumptive Republican presidential nominee John McCain has another name to trot out when defending himself against conservative skeptics: Anti-abortion activist Gary Bauer. Bauer, a former presidential candidate, endorsed the Arizona senator today.

"John McCain has dedicated his life to defending human rights around the world, including the rights of the unborn," Bauer said in a statement released by the McCain campaign. "I admire his consistent 24-year pro-life record and demonstrated commitment to the values that keep our families and communities strong."

McCain thanked Bauer in the statement, adding this: "I have long admired Gary's commitment and passion for our shared pro-life and pro-family values. Gary has always been a forceful, unapologetic advocate for the sanctity of life and traditional marriage, judicial restraint and a strong American foreign policy based on our values."

UPDATE: McCain also secured the endorsement of former Florida governor and presidential brother Jeb Bush today. "He is determined and steadfast in his commitment to reducing the burden of high taxes, restoring the people's trust in their government, and winning the war against radical Islamic extremists," Bush said in a statement released by the McCain campaign.

But not everyone is jumping on the bandwagon. As CBS News' Joy Lin notes, conservative activist Paul Weyrich is backing rival Mike Huckabee, despite the fact that Huckabee has little chance of winning the GOP nomination.

"He called me first of all and initiated the conversation and indicated to me that he felt like I was the one guy that was left that was a true conservative that really believed things that mattered to a lot of conservatives and it involved everything from strong national defense to immigration to tax policy, the life question," Huckabee said.