SAVE MONEY ON TRAVEL DEALS

Although the Arizona senator is accepting fundraising help from President George Bush, he's being careful not to appear with him and is fighting to deflect charges his policies represent a "third term" for Bush, ABC News reported Tuesday.

"Senator McCain is in a tricky situation when it comes to President Bush", Dan Schnur, the communications director for McCain's 2000 presidential run, told the television network.

Even though Bush has low popularity marks among the general public, he is still perceived favorably by the Republican Party's conservative and Christian evangelical base, sectors McCain will need to win in November's general election against likely Democratic opponent Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., observers say.

"President Bush is still our party's president and he is still popular with those who constitute the conservative base of the party", Kevin Madden, a spokesperson former GOP presidential candidate Mitt Romney, told ABC News.

 BREAKING STORIES

Bush signs presidential transition order

Laura Bush reportedly plans move to Dallas

Bush signs U.S.-India nuclear trade pact

Bush urges bailout plan support

House GOP rebukes Bush on bailout plan

Bush hails Iraqi election agreement

Bush: 'Big package for big problem'

Bush outlines bold market recovery plan

Bush expresses confidence in SEC chair

Bush denounces embassy attack

Cheney aide: Bush won't attack Iran

Bush: U.S. 'safer now' than 7 years ago

U.S. needs domestic oil source, WH says

Bin Laden hunt still on, Bush aide says

Bush says more U.S. troops to leave Iraq

Bush said lower violence in Iraq a success

Bush: Iraq's Anbar province 'transformed'

Report: Bush will retain Iraq troop levels

Bush again slams Congress on energy

Bush: Oil reserves available for recovery