John McCain got some support today from the nation’s pundit-in-chief on Fox News Sunday.

President George W. Bush told Chris Wallace this morning that McCain is a “true conservative,” but added that the Arizona Senator “has got some convincing to do to convince people that he is a solid conservative.” However, 43 was reticent to endorse McCain before the GOP race is officially over.

The President is still considered an all-star among the party’s activist base and his words are helpful as McCain seeks to shore up his right flank going into the general election.

Relevant transcript below:

“FOX NEWS SUNDAY” HOST CHRIS WALLACE: Mr. President, I know you’re not ready to endorse yet in the presidential race, so I am going to ask you a non-endorsement question. This last week you talked to the CPAC conference and you said soon you will have a nominee who will carry a conservative banner.

Question: Is John McCain a true conservative?

PRESIDENT GEORGE W. BUSH: Absolutely. I know him well. I know his convictions. I know the principles that drive him and no doubt in my mind he is a true conservative. Now I do want to make sure that you don’t rope me into getting into this primary before it ends because we have another conservative candidate in Mike Huckabee still running.

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Charleston, SC-

Last night at the Citadel, the historic southern military school located here in Charleston, GOP presidential aspirant Mike Huckabee positioned himself in defense battle mode, warning the crowd of 400 supporters about the barrage of attacks from his enemy entities, like the Club for Growth, that are questioning his conservative credentials. Huckabee defended his record.

“Folks, I don’t know what you are going to hear, about that I’m not a conservative, but when you cut taxes, and you increase the per capita income, you improved the schools, and you rebuild the roads, and you preserve the national resources, and you streamline government, your government grows at a rate that is half that of the average of all states,” Huckabee said, his voice rising. “Call it anything you want to, but anybody with an I.Q. above broccoli calls that conservative, rock-solid, kind of leadership.”

With the South Carolina primary only a couple days away, every hit, and every maneuver counts, in this tight race.

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