Several of Sen. John McCain’s former competitors for the Republican nomination have been coming out of the woodwork in recent days to stump on the Arizona senator’s behalf. Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney made the rounds recently. Yesterday, former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani spoke to reporters and made a couple of TV appearances. This morning, actor and former Sen. Fred Thompson is taking part in a McCain campaign conference call with reporters about national security, naturally.


The ones still missing could be the ones that matter most however. Rep. Ron Paul, who apparently ended his bid last week, was saying nice things about Libertarian candidate Bob Barr. Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, favorite of conservative Christian voters — whose support McCain needs to solidify — has just made a deal with Fox News, so it seems he won’t be stumping for McCain soon.


Will all this support from former rivals with more conservative street cred get McCain the GOP base? Maybe. Romney could bring some of the religious conservatives and maybe help out in his home state of Michigan — a key battleground. Giuliani talks tough on terrorism and could help McCain with the national-security crowd — though a recent Rasmussen poll suggests most are probably on board anyway.


And Thompson…well, he does have experience playing a president. Perhaps he can also shore up support in the much sought-after voting bloc of "Law & Order" viewers.