By Jonathan Allen, CQ Staff

Arizona Sen. John McCain , eager to fortify ties with conservatives as his party’s presumed presidential nominee, huddled last week with Rep. Zach Wamp , R-Tenn., who had been the Capitol Hill ringleader for Fred Thompson ’s unsuccessful presidential campaign.

Wamp backed the campaign-finance overhaul that bears McCain’s name in 2002, and the two men discussed their common interest in altering the way government does business.

“We just talked about the Republican agenda for reforming the government,” Wamp said. “I want to help him carry the reform mantle through this campaign.”

Wamp was reticent about details, but said they discussed spending-reduction proposals, including an earmark overhaul -- specifically a plan backed by Wamp and some other GOP appropriators to create a congressional committee on earmark reform -- as well as plans to make the Army Corps of Engineers more efficient, an agenda item dear to conservatives.

McCain still has a lot of work to do in winning over House conservatives, many of whom loathe him for bucking the party on issues ranging from taxes to oil and gas drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. Wamp, who is also a conservative with a fierce independent streak, could help McCain make inroads with the small legion of social and economic conservatives who formed Thompson’s political base in the House.