President Bush has endorsed Republican presidential candidate John McCain saying that the Vietnam War veteran "is ready to lead".

He told cheering delegates at the Republican National Convention at St Paul Minnesota that Mr McCain was an independent leader who could be trusted to rule the country.

"I know the hard choices that fall solely to a President. (John) McCain's life has prepared him to make those choices. He is ready to lead this nation."

His address was televised through satellite from White House, Washington.

"We live in a dangerous world. The man we need is (John) McCain," he said in the speech displayed on a giant screen at the Xcel Energy Centre.

He spoke as Republicans sought to get the convention back on track after initially suspending activities on Monday due to the disruptive Hurricane Gustav.

He singled out Mr McCain's support of the Iraq war as one of his key strengths, adding the nominee's assertion that he would rather lose elections than a war was proof of his determination to ensure the country's security.

"That is the kind of courage and vision we need in our next Commander-In-Chief," he said.

President Bush was introduced to the audience by his wife Laura who spoke of her husband's good deeds to the world.

She spoke of the country's education developments and the fight against HIV and Aids.

Senator Joe Lieberman, who was the Democratic vice presidential nominee in 2000, criticised Mr Obama saying he was not ready to lead.

The Independent said Mr McCain was the better choice to become president in the November General Election.

"Senator Obama is a gifted and eloquent young man who can do great things for our country in the years ahead. But eloquence is no substitute for a record, not in these tough times for America."