Bush backs SEC's Cox after McCain says would fire him

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. President George W. Bush backs Securities and Exchange Commission Chairman Christopher Cox, the White House said on Thursday after Republican presidential hopeful John McCain said he would fire the chief securities regulator.

When asked if Bush supports and has confidence in Cox -- who has been helping the administration grapple with the financial market turmoil -- after McCain's remark, White House spokeswoman Dana Perino said: "Yes."

(Reporting by Jeremy Pelofsky, editing by Lisa Von Ahn)