GOP Rallies Behind McCain, Poll Shows

ST. PAUL -- Senator John McCain this week will officially claim the presidential nomination from a convention here that is united behind him, and confident of keeping the White House.

Just four years ago, at the Republican convention in New York, Mr. McCain, of Arizona, was far less popular than Mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani, of New York, a poll of party delegates showed. But after besting Mr. Giuliani and other rivals in the primary season this year, Mr. McCain enters this year's convention with the enthusiastic support of nearly 9 in 10 delegates, according to a poll of Republican delegates by The New York Times and CBS News. Just 8 percent have reservations about him, the poll shows.

The delegates' unanimity comes in spite of their description of themselves as more conservative than Mr. McCain, whose maverick image has long made him controversial in his party.

Read more on New York Times