Former President Bush to endorse McCain

Washington: Former President George H.W. Bush will endorse John McCain in Texas on Monday, Republican officials said.

The endorsement represents another step in McCain's tightening grip on the Republican presidential nomination.

On Thursday, he picked up the endorsement of his one-time chief rival, former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney.

The endorsement of the former president and patriarch of the Bush family also could help with party stalwarts.

His son, the current President Bush, has not yet formally endorsed McCain because former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee in still in the race, but he strongly signalled his support last weekend in a cable television interview.

The president told 'Fox News Sunday' that McCain is a "true conservative" but may have to work harder to convince other conservatives that he is one of their own.