Straight Talk, Version 2?

At least for now, all signs appear go for that upcoming meeting between George W. Bush and John McCain - and campaign finance reform no longer seems to be a stumbling block.

The Texas governor and the Arizona senator are expected to meet May 9th in Pittsburgh for the first time since their bruising GOP primary battle. Last week, doubts emerged about whether the meeting would indeed take place. But on CBS News' Face The Nation on Sunday, McCain said the meeting would go forward as planned.

"I'm making no demands. There is no negotiations," said the senator. "I just think we need to reach some understandings as to how I can best be of help to Governor Bush in the campaign."

As the presumptive GOP nominee for president, Bush needs McCain's help against Vice President Al Gore in the November general election. The senator - who made campaign finance reform a centerpiece of his White House bid - doubted he and Bush would agree on the issue when they met. But McCain appeared to signal that his endorsement of Bush - something which has yet to happen - would not require such an agreement.

"I think if I didn't (endorse Bush because of campaign finance reform), I would be litmus testing him. I don't think that's appropriate for me to do," he told Face The Nation.

Still, McCain said, "I think there are a number of areas where I know that we will be in agreement," including Social Security, defense, education, and health care.

And the senator praised Bush for aiming towards the political mainstream in recent weeks.

"I think he's adopting a reform agenda, and I think he is reaching to the center, which is really the way that I think a successful presidential campaign should be run," said McCain of his former rival.

The senator said while this year's GOP platform must continue to oppose abortion rights, at the same time it must send a more inclusive message.

"If we are going to exclude people on any specific issue, even if it's abortion, then I think we will lose another election."

While McCain seems on track to endorse Bush sooner or later, the senator emphasized that he also didn't want to disillusion those who backed him in the Republican primaries.

"I cannot abandon the millions of people who said, I'm supporting McCain because I believe he is committed to this path of reform. I believe that's transcendent... of my party loyalty."

And whatever support McCain gives Bush, the senator is chomping at the bit to campaign for other Republican candidates nationwide.

"I will, no matter what, continue to do everything I can to help candidates, including Rudy Giuliani," said McCain, referring to the GOP mayor of New York City. Last week, Giuliani announced he has prostate cancer. McCain has offered to stump for Giuliani in his U.S. Senate race in New York against First Lady Hillary Rodham Clinton, a Democrat, while the mayor undergoemedical treatment.

Once again, McCain publicly ruled himself out of consideration to be Bush's running mate on the Republican ticket.

"There will be a list (of vice presidential prospects), and I've asked that I not be on that listI'm not interested in it," he told Face The Nation.

But what about Secretary of Defense John McCain in a George W. Bush administration? The senator didn't want to talk about that, either. And yet, unlike the vice presidency, he didn't quite slam the door on that possibility as unequivocally.

Also on Face The Nation on Sunday, McCain and others talked about the 25th anniversary of the fall of Saigon - and the Justice Department's antitrust chief Joel Klein discussed the Microsoft case.