McCain: Immigration flip-flop?

Speaking right now before the Conservative Political Action Committee, presumed Republican presidential nominee John McCain could barely get the words "illegal immigration" out of his mouth before the boos started.

And lasted. For more than 20 seconds.

The Arizona senator who once championed a path to citizenship for illegal immigrants noted finally that his position ``obviously still provokes the opposition of conservatives.''

``I respect your oppostiion,'' he told the crowd, and said he accepted the defeats he and others suffered in trying to pass a comprehensive immigration bill. He noted that since then he has pledged that it would be his ``highest priority to secure our borders first.''

He then vowed that ``only after we have a achieved widespread consensus that our borders are secure'' would he entertain other immigration options.

Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney pulled out of the presidential race earlier this morning, leaving McCain as the party's likely candidate.