WASHINGTON – President Bush says Sen. John McCain’s understanding of the lessons of Sept. 11 makes him ready to serve in the White House.Trying to rally support for McCain’s presidential bid, Bush says the nation needs someone in the Oval Office who knows that “to protect America, we must stay on the offense.” He said the president must be someone who can “stop attacks before they happen and not wait to be hit again.”Bush says: “That man we need is John McCain.”The comments were part of Bush’s address tonight to the Republican National Convention. The White House released excerpts of Bush’s comments in advance.Bush was set to address the convention for about eight minutes by a live video satellite feed.

In this March 5, 2008 file photo, President Bush and Republican presidential candidate Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz. walk down the West Wing Colonnade of the White House in Washington. Photo by THE ASSOCIATED PRESS