U.S. John McCain is trying hard to back up one-time presidential nominee rival Mitt Romney.

While visiting Conway today, McCain inserted Romney's name when he meant another candidates the second goof in two days of campaigning in South Carolina, an ABC news blogger wrote.

" 'Lindsey Graham and Jim DeMint have joined with me time and time again to go to the floor of the senate to fight against the earmark, pork barrel corruption that goes on in Washington D.C.,' said McCain, speaking at a rally in a peanut warehouse. 'Earmarks are a gateway to corruption. I can tell you that neither Mitt Romney nor Rick Santorum share that view.' "

"What McCain had meant to say was that neither Newt Gingrich nor Rick Santorum share that view."

The day before in Charleston:

"McCain erred when he replaced President Obama’s name in a line that was meant to laud Romney. 'I am confident, with the backing of the American people, President Obama will turn this country around,' said McCain, immediately catching his error. President Romney."

Perhaps things will go better when Romney starts campaigning in New Hampshire this weekend with McCain and S.C. Gov. Nikki Haley.