Who is the best conservative? Just as in 2000, when John McCain was campaigning against a young upstart from Texas named George W. Bush, the Republican race has come down to bickering between the two leading candidates about Republican values. But this time, it looks like McCain, in his battle with Mitt Romney, might have generated enough momentum to make such concerns secondary.

In a debate among Republican candidates held in the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in California on Wednesday evening, Romney, the former governor of Massachusetts, accused McCain of holding positions far to the left of mainstream Republicans. He particularly singled out McCain's position on illegal immigration, global warming and tax cuts, all issues where Romney has sought to conform to conservative Republican stances.

Romney also accused McCain of resorting to dirty tricks during the campaign prior to Tuesday's Florida primary. The Arizona Senator said that Romney supported a timetable for the withdrawal of US troops in Iraq, a no-no among American conservatives. Romney denied the accusation, and said: "And by the way, raising it a few days before the Florida primary, when there was very little time for me to correct the record … falls into the kind of dirty tricks that I think Ronald Reagan would have found reprehensible."

Being the only Republican candidate to have won three primaries, though, has turned the tide solidly in McCain's favor ahead of Super Tuesday next week, when Republicans in 21 states will be choosing who they would like to see be the party's candidate for president. Rudy Giuliani, the former mayor of New York, quit the race on Wednesday and immediately threw his support behind McCain. California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger is likewise expected to endorse McCain on Thursday, giving the Vietnam veteran some potentially vital support given the state's 170 delegates on offer.

Schwarzenegger, though, like McCain, is hardly the most conservative Republican around and his endorsement could highlight McCain's weakness when it comes to core conservative issues like immigration and global warming. German commentators on Thursday, however, are full of praise for the Arizona senator and look ahead to the post-Super Tuesday campaign.

Business daily Financial Times Deutschland congratulates Americans on their choice:

"John McCain is a great example of why predictions have been so tough in this US primary season. Just three months ago, the senator's campaign looked to be dead in the water. And, after his victory in Florida, it may still be premature to say that McCain has the Republican presidential nomination locked up."

"But it's true nonetheless: On the Republican side, the race is decided. The winner is John McCain. And the voters are to be congratulated for choosing the best candidate."

"McCain was the best choice Republicans had. One can respect Mike Huckabee's religion-tinged worldview -- but as a presidential candidate he's unthinkable. The same goes for Rudy Giuliani. As mayor of New York after the terror crisis of Sept. 11, 2001, he did a respectable job. But that's not enough to run for president."

"Mitt Romney, whom McCain soundly defeated in Florida, remains a serious candidate. His experience as a manager in private industry makes him look -- in a moment when America is threatened by recession -- like an ideal candidate. But the example of George W. Bush and his Harvard MBA has clearly taught people that a degree in business doesn't prove anything. The first manager to serve in the White House was a dramatically bad leader."

"McCain may not have Romney's management experience. But he has what aspirants to the US presidency need much more: a solid, healthy understanding of people, a view of his country's problems unblinkered by ideology, an enormous amount of experience with Congress and a few strict principles -- not least that America shouldn't be torturing prisoners."

The left-wing Die Tageszeitung is relieved:

"Here's the good news: The right-wing preachers and fanatics obviously won't get their chance this time. With McCain, Republicans are getting a candidate who prior to 2004 was often discussed as a vice-presidential candidate -- for the Democrats. His harsh criticism of Bush's human rights policy in the 'War on Terror' put McCain on the world stage. He's a thorn in the side of right-wing conservatives on other critical points as well, even though he occasionally scores a few easy points with anti-abortion rhetoric or family values talk. For the Democrats, McCain -- as a firm supporter of a long-term occupation of Iraq -- is no longer an option."

The business daily Handelsblatt has this to say:

"It's still not clear which candidates will be running against each other on Nov. 4. Among the conservatives, John McCain is the favorite after his victory in Florida. But Mitt Romney's business background makes him a serious contender. And the Democrats have decisions to make, too. Clinton's victory over Obama is far from a sure thing. She can count on years of experience and a well-oiled campaign machine, but more and more she's being overshadowed by 'Billary' Clinton."

"The withdrawals of Giuliani and Edwards clear the field, and after Super Tuesday, it's sure to be a bit clearer. It's still an exciting show."