Washington ? Republican Sen. John McCain has personally rejected John Kerry’s overtures to join the Democratic presidential ticket and forge a bipartisan alliance against President Bush, officials familiar with the conversations said Friday.

Kerry asked McCain in the last two weeks to consider becoming his running mate, but the Arizona senator said he was not interested, according to a Democratic official who spoke on condition of anonymity because Kerry has insisted that his deliberations be kept private. A second official involved in the discussions confirmed the account and said the Arizona senator made it clear he wouldn’t change his mind.

Both officials said Kerry stopped short of formally offering McCain the job, sparing himself an outright rejection that would make his eventual running mate look like a second choice.

“Senator McCain categorically states that he has not been offered the vice presidency by anyone,” said McCain’s chief of staff, Mark Salter, who would not confirm the account.

The officials said Kerry and McCain talked about the vice presidency on several occasions, with the nominee-in-waiting sketching out a scenario under which McCain could have a significant role over defense and other issues. Despite his respect for Kerry, McCain didn’t want to abandon his party, the officials said. Thus, he told Kerry there would be no need to ask him again to consider the job.

The development may lay to rest speculation that Kerry and McCain would reach across Washington’s deep partisan divide and create an unprecedented political partnership.