Rudy Drops Out, Backs McCain

Rudy Giuliani ended his bid for the presidency as expected today and endorsed John McCain, the AP reports. Giuliani made his announcement at the Ronald Reagan library in California, one day after a disappointing third-place finish in the Florida primary. With McCain at his side, Giuliani called it a "consolation, in the bitterness of losing," to be able to back the Arizona senator. "He's an American hero."

"Having McCain as an adversary made me admire him even more," said Giuliani, the onetime GOP front-runner. He said McCain "displayed tenacity, courage, focus, the ability to get things done," all the qualities necessary for a good president. The former NYC mayor also said he and McCain shared common beliefs, including fiscal conservatism and the need for a strong deterrent against terrorism. (More Rudy Giuliani stories.)