In a show of Republican unity, one-time bitter foes John McCain (web|news|bio) and Mitt Romney raised money and campaigned together Thursday for a single goal - getting McCain elected president. "We are united. Now our job is to energize our party," McCain said in an airport hanger, flanked by Romney and Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr., an early McCain supporter. Both men have been mentioned as potential vice presidential picks, and while McCain praised each, he did not tip his hand on whether either was under consideration.

Romney, for his part, praised McCain and promised to do all that he could to help, saying: "He is a man who is proven and tested" and without question the right man to be president.

In February, Romney won 90 percent of the vote in Utah to McCain's 5 percent. Romney's ties to the state run deep, from his Mormon faith to his work overseeing the 2002 Olympics in Salt Lake City.

"Look, that wasn't the only state I lost to Governor Romney in - it was just the largest loss,' McCain said chuckling. He joked that it was abject humiliation that was understandable given Romney's Utah links. "I was at least hoping to break into double digits though!"

"I think he did just fine in New Hampshire, South Carolina, Florida, California ...," Romney said, laughing as well

McCain and Romney then headed to Denver for another fundraiser.

McCain, who has struggled to raise campaign money compared with Democratic rivals Barack Obama (web|news|bio) and Hillary Rodham Clinton (web|news|bio), is on a weeklong western fundraising swing. Romney is popular in Utah and Colorado, states with large numbers of residents who are members of his Mormon faith.

The former Massachusetts governor dropped out of the race last month after it became apparent it would be near impossible to topple McCain in the convention delegate race. A week later, he endorsed the Arizona senator and pledged to do whatever he could to help McCain win the nomination.

Since then, McCain has praised Romney repeatedly as someone who is certain to continue playing a large role in the GOP. Romney, for his part, has suggested that he'd accept the No. 2 spot on the ticket, though some Republicans privately speculate that he's looking ahead to 2012 and a possible repeat run.

Neither man appeared especially fond of the other during the campaign. Romney cast McCain as outside of the GOP's conservative mainstream and a Washington insider who contributed to the problems plaguing a broken system. McCain, in turn, argued that Romney's equivocations and reversals on several issues indicated a willingness to change his positions to fit his political goals.

Written By LIZ SIDOTI

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