Heavyweights back 'unflinching' Bush

Delegates hope Bush will serve another four years as president

Two of America's most respected politicians have backed President Bush's campaign for re-election.

Senator John McCain and the former Mayor of New York, Rudolph Giuliani, praised Mr Bush's leadership, at the Republican Party's New York convention.

Senator McCain - a former rival to Mr Bush - said Mr Bush had "not flinched from the hard choices" facing America.

The party wants to win over undecided voters before November's election, with polls suggesting the race is close.

Mr McCain is seen as an independent thinker who is not afraid to diverge from the party line, say commentators.

The outspoken senator warned Americans Mr Bush's war on terror was inevitable and must be seen through to the end.

We need a leader with the experience to make the tough decisions and the resolve to stick with them - a leader who will keep us moving forward even if it is easier to rest Arizona Senator John McCain McCain: Full text of speech Giuliani: Full text of speech Day one in quotes Convention speeches

The Arizona senator is also seen as a good choice of speaker for a party which wants to attract conservative Democrats on 2 November.

Former New York mayor Rudy Giuliani also urged voters to put "leadership" at the core of their decision in November's presidential election.

The convention is being held amid tight security just a short distance from the site of the World Trade Center - which was destroyed in the 11 September 2001 attacks - and just a few days before the third anniversary of those attacks.

The date marked the beginning of what the Bush administration calls its war on terror, and the president has made this a centrepiece of his re-election campaign.

'Noble' Iraq mission

Mr McCain told delegates, who repeatedly interrupted his speech with cheers and standing ovations, that "only the most deluded of us could doubt the necessity" of the war on terror.

He said after the 11 September attacks, Mr Bush had "promised our enemies would soon hear from us, and so they did, so they did".

Mr McCain stoutly defended Mr Bush's decision to go to war with Iraq, saying the mission was "necessary, achievable and noble".

Delegates booed polemical filmmaker Michael Moore

He refused to take any swipes at the Democrat contender John Kerry, saying the political debate about the war on terror was an "argument among friends". Republicans and Democrats, he said, were not enemies.

But Mr McCain showed less reserve when dealing with maverick film director Michael Moore, whose Fahrenheit 9/11 urges voters to throw Mr Bush out of office.

Mr McCain called Mr Moore a "disingenuous filmmaker who would have us believe that Saddam's Iraq was an oasis of peace".

The comment attracted thunderous boos from delegates and chants of "four more years" - and a wry smile from Mr Moore, who is attending the convention.

Mr McCain also praised the armed forces, saying Americans had to be "worthy of the sacrifices they provide".

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The Vietnam war heroism of Mr McCain is seen as a useful counter-balance to that of Democrat contender John Kerry, say correspondents.

Later, Mr Giuliani told delegates that "in times of war and danger... Americans should put leadership at the core of their decision".

Mr Giuliani painted Mr Kerry as indecisive.

"President Bush sees world terrorism for the evil that it is," Mr Giuliani said.

"John Kerry has no such clear, precise and consistent vision."

War 'unwinnable'

Mr Bush has also been talking about his strategy against terrorism.

In an interview with the NBC network's Today show, Mr Bush said he did not think the war on terror could be won - but that "you can create conditions so that those who use terror as a tool are less acceptable".

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He said the US "must never yield, must never show weakness, must continue to lead, to find the al-Qaeda... affiliates... and bring them to justice".

Mr Bush's words were pounced on by Democrat vice-presidential candidate John Edwards, who said it was "no time to declare defeat".

Mr Bush will address the convention in a lavish speech on Thursday.

All 50 states are expected to endorse the candidacy of Mr Bush for a second term at the convention.