McCain calls for support from critics in party

BOOSTED by his big night, John McCain asked his loudest conservative critics yesterday to “calm down” and support his Republican presidential candidacy.

Mr McCain was referring to radio talk show hosts and other pundits of the right when he appealed for unity now that he has a leg up in the nomination race.

“I think they’ve made their case against me pretty eloquently,” he said, adding wryly “if that’s the right word”. He asserted that the pundits’ conservative hero Ronald Reagan — and his — reached across the aisle to Democrats just like he wants to do as president.