Bush, Clinton Ratchet Up the Drama

The Allen campaign was not so accepting of the new friendship.

"Bill Clinton and Chuck Robb better enjoy their time with their fellow tax-raiser Webb tonight. His hypocrisy is becoming legendary," Allen campaign manager Dick Wadhams said. "Webb has a clear pattern of changing who he is and what he stands for with the political winds. Webb could well be calling Bill Clinton 'corrupt' and Chuck Robb a 'problem' again soon."

Both candidates in Virginia had to balance their guests' fundraising abilities with the baggage they bring to the state.

A Washington Post poll last week found that Bush's job approval among likely voters in the November election is at 43 percent in Virginia, about the same as nationally. In addition, 54 percent believe that the war in Iraq was not worth fighting, and 46 percent believe that "strongly."

The numbers are much higher, and Bush's approval rating much lower, in Northern Virginia, where about 30 percent of the state's voters reside.

At a news conference yesterday morning, Allen appeared reluctant to embrace Bush even as he prepared to welcome him to the state. Allen dodged a question about whether he is proud of his support for Bush -- the Webb campaign repeatedly points out that it is north of 95 percent -- describing his own record without once mentioning the president in his answer.

"I'm proud of my record as governor of Virginia, and I'm proud of my record in the United States Senate," Allen said.

Asked about the purpose for the president's visit, Allen said: "It's a fundraiser. The president's coming in to raise money. We need to raise money because Hillary Rodham Clinton has piled in a million dollars via the Democratic Senate committee."

Staff writers Tim Craig, Ann E. Marimow and Matthew Mosk contributed to this report.