Republican presumptive nominee John McCain has declared he will back Brazil's inclusion on an expanded U.N. Security Council, according to an interview conducted by the Brazilian press.

The International Herald Tribune reports that, in an interview published with the presidential contender by the newspaper O Estado de Sao Paulo, McCain said he, "supports a permanent seat on the UN Security Council for Brazil and an increased participation for the country in the G-8," while also reiterating his view that India should also be granted a place.

Despite the Arizona senator's welcome support, Brazil's President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva meanwhile has refused to endorse either candidate for president though said a Barack Obama win would be a "watershed moment" for the United States.

He told Reuters that the time was ripe for better relations between the U.S. and Brazil and called for a new "positive approach".

"The United States needs to stop viewing Latin America with a conspiratorial eye. There is no one left pushing for revolution in Latin America anymore," he said.

Image: Sen. John McCain addresses the audience at the 129th National Guard Association of the United States General Conference in San Juan, Puerto Rico, Aug. 25, 2007. Credit: U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Jim Greenhill/flickr.

Once considered one of the main issues that will dominate the 2008 presidential campaign, immigration reform appears to have taken a back seat in both the McCain and Obama election policy initiatives according to AP.

In their desire the capture the powerful Latino vote, both Obama and McCain have downplayed calls to step up reform -- indeed both Obama and McCain have supported an amnesty for millions of illegal immigrants -- yet both remain troubled by a conservative backlash.
Image right: McCain campaigning  in Portsmouth,NH 2008.

Image: Mitt Romney on the campaign trail in Des Moines, Iowa. Credit: Joe Crimmings/flickr

Mitt Romney, the former contender for Republican presidential nominee and suggested running mate for presumptive Republican nominee John McCain, has declared he has had no discussions with McCain over the VP position.

Romney told delegates at the Colorado Republican Party's state convention that though the Arizona senator wasn't his first choice for president (he himself was), he was happy to do all he could to assist him reach that goal.

The former Massachusetts governor along with two other running mate contenders, Florida Gov. Charlie Crist and Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal have also met with the Arizona senator recently.