that's the first thought that came to mind reading this article...

"two bitter rivals from the 2000 presidential race joining together now in hopes of preventing Democrats from winning the White House this fall."]My Way

what makes the democrats such a threat, or is this the final "ha! ha!" from bush?

If Bush didn't endorse him, it would show a fracture in the republican party that the Democrats could take advantage of.

It's purely political. You could tell from watching the body language that they don't like each other.

I'm not sure I'd want an endorsement from Bush...given the distance much of the GOP has put between themselves and W, you'd think an endorsement from him would amount to the kiss of death.

true. but for better or worse, he is the most powerful person in the party so he has to give that endorsement to whoever is to represent the republicans.