McCain, campaigning far away in Dublin, N.H., read a statement about the flag to avoid any misunderstanding about his position. He posted the same message on his presidential campaign Web site.

"As to how I view the flag, I understand both sides," the Arizona senator said. "Some view it as a symbol of slavery. Others view it as a symbol of heritage," which is a phrase used by some white Republicans who want the flag to continue flying over the South Carolina Statehouse.

"Personally, I see the battle flag as a symbol of heritage," explained McCain, a Navy veteran who comes from a long line of military leaders. "I have ancestors who have fought for the Confederacy, none of whom owned slaves. I believe they fought honorably."

Bush, meanwhile, repeated his oft-stated position that the decision is up to South Carolina voters.

The flag has flown above the Statehouse since 1962. Five years ago, legislators rebuffed Republican Gov. David Beasley's attempts to take it down. The state holds its presidential primary on Feb. 19.

"I've answered that question all I'm going to answer it today," the Texas governor said testily after being asked again about the flag during an afternoon news conference in Wilmington, Del.

Earlier in the day, he also found himself on the defensive about his campaign's decision to hold a rally the night before at a Charleston plantation that had been worked by slaves.

On another racial topic, Bush criticized the words of a Republican South Carolina state senator who labeled the NAACP the "National Association for Retarded People" for its work against the flag -- but he declined to call for the senator to apologize.

"I would say that's unfortunate name-calling," Bush said after addressing a community breakfast here. "You shouldn't be calling names in the course of a very emotional debate."

Reporters asked the governor about the racial subjects after Bush said that he wanted the Republican Party to reach out more to minorities.

In Texas, Bush has recorded growing support from minorities and women. In his 1998 re-election, exit polls showed he got support from 49 percent of Hispanics, 27 percent of blacks and 65 percent of women, nearly all double-digit improvements from his first election in 1994.

Also Wednesday, Bush picked up the endorsements of Sens. John Ashcroft of Missouri and Connie Mack of Florida, the 32nd and 33rd GOP senators who have announced their support for him.

Among other GOP candidates:

- Publisher Steve Forbes defended a TV ad he's running in Iowa accusing Bush of breaking a promise not to raise taxes in Texas, a contention Bush strongly denies. "If it's negative to tell the truth, I will tell the truth," said Forbes. "He made a promise and he broke it."

- Conservative activist Gary Bauer began a six-day Iowa swing by showing new television commercials of his own.

- Sen. Orrin Hatch of Utah visited the Palmer College of Chiropractic in Davenport, Iowa, and said supporters shouldn't be stopped by his low standing in polls so far. "I have more experience than any one of them," he said of his opponents.

- Commentator Alan Keyes was in the midst of a "renewing America" grass-roots swing around the state.

Bush, referring to his campaign's selection of the Boone Hall Plantation for an oyster roast and campaign rally, noted that the site had been used by officials from both parties for political events.

"People shouldn't read into venue locations someone's heart," Bush said after addressing a community breakfast. "I believe I'm going to win votes based upon public policy. I'm talking about education and opportunity and economic growth. That's how you win votes."

That said, two black church leaders who participated later in the day at a Bush campaign appearance at a Wilmington, Del., social service agency said they wished the would-be president would take a stand on the flag issue.

Leaving it to the voters "says to me you really don't want to risk getting involved in a touchy issue," said the Rev. Carroll Douglas Jenkins of the Interdenominational Ministers Action Council. He said he had been born in South Carolina and his mother and other relatives still live there.

The Rev. Clifford Johnson of the Shiloh Baptist Church said of Bush's deference to the voters: "It almost says to me, `We are supportive of the oppressive period that led to our tribulations."'

McCain, for his part, said he hopes "the people of South Carolina will be able to resolve this emotional issue in an atmosphere of mutual respect."

The senator compared the fight over the Confederate flag to the fight in Arizona over establishing a holiday to honor civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr.

"We went through a terrible time in Arizona," he said. "I was part of the effort to recognize Dr. Martin Luther King."