Convention Watch: Cindy McCain Nominates Bush

July 31 -- She had hoped it would be her husband’s name placed in nomination tonight.

Instead, Cindy McCain settled for leading the Arizona delegation at the Republican National Convention, declaring “unanimous” support of George W. Bush from the state’s 30 delegates.

McCain told the convention hall she was “very proud and deeply humbled” to be there. She was tapped to lead the delegation after her husband, Sen. John McCain, dropped his campaign against Bush for the Republican nomination.

Typically, her role would be filled by Arizona Gov. Jane Hull, but she endorsed Bush before the state’s primary — which McCain won decisively. After some political maneuvering, Mrs. McCain was chosen to lead the delegation.

Arizona’s 30 delegates are technically pledged to McCain since he prevailed in the state’s winner-take-all primary. But he released the delegates he won in seven primaries at an emotional ceremony on Sunday and urged them to vote for his former rival.

During the convention’s roll call of states, Mrs. McCain said her and her husband want to “restore honor, dignity and grace to the White House.”

The McCains took one last ride on the “Straight Talk Express” campaign bus to get to the convention in Philadelphia. She described the convention as a chance for her and her husband to reflect on the campaign and make a transition back to normal life.

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She said she is proud to have a role at the convention. “This is a wonderful opportunity and a great treat for me,” she told The Associated Press.

—ABCNEWS and The Associated Press

Remembering the Dead

Above the stage where a stream of speakers had been talking of education and taxes, photos of two men flashed on the screen, quieting the delegates roaming the floor.

Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott walked toward the podium on the first day of the Republican National Convention and instead of looking toward Election Day, he looked back, recalling the dedication of his late colleagues, Paul Coverdell and John Chafee.