ODI, Calif. - Standing as allies here for the first time since their primary match-up, Governor George W. Bush and Senator John S. McCain gave a show of unity yesterday in this heavyweight electoral state, hoping to steal some thunder from the Democratic convention set to begin here next week.
McCain, the Arizona Republican who ran as a maverick commmitted to overhauling the campaign finance system, lavished Bush with praise, encouraging the hundreds of thousands of independents who supported him in California to transfer their support to Bush. And the Texas governor returned the favor, saying that it was ''awfully helpful to have John McCain by my side'' in independent states and more liberal areas such as the ones they campaigned in yesterday.
Both men sought to erase memories of their bitter disagreements - and, at times, negative tactics - during the Republican primaries. Arriving by plane in Monterey yesterday morning, Bush was greeted on the airport tarmac by McCain, who gave him a half-embrace. Half an hour later, McCain introduced Bush at a small appearance at a museum devoted to author John Steinbeck. The two then addressed a crowd of thousands at a train stop rally before embarking on a three-hour journey through Central California. They are scheduled to travel through Oregon and Washington, holding two fund-raisers before returning for a night at McCain's Sedona ranch on Saturday.
The events were part of a delicate strategy of utilizing McCain in places where he had the greatest appeal during the primaries without focusing so much attention on the Arizona senator that he overshadows the candidate.
And McCain seemed to know the limits of his role. Displaying little of the fiery dynamism that marked his brief candidacy, McCain spoke quietly and embraced ideas being stressed by the Bush campaign. He did not mention his signature issue, campaign finance reform, until asked by a reporter.
Bush, meanwhile, used the backdrop of the National Steinbeck Center to emphasize his commitment to the downtrodden, restating his pledge, if elected president, to sign the reauthorization of the 1996 Welfare Reform Act before its scheduled expiration in 2002. Claiming success with Texas welfare legislation that he signed into law, Bush said, ''I think one of the real dangers as we head into the 21st century is that some might be left behind.''
The remarks were a counterpoint to similar claims made by his Democratic opponent, Vice President Al Gore, who yesterday used a campaign stop in Atlanta to tout the success of the Clinton administration's welfare-reform program. Gore said that the Clinton program had ''moved millions from welfare to work,'' saying that with 6.6 million people on welfare nationwide the rolls are the lowest they've been since 1968.
Bush aides responded by pointing out that the Texas initiative became law in 1995, a year before Clinton signed the federal bill. And Bush's communications director, Karen Hughes, said that it was only under duress that the Democratic administration did so. ''President Clinton vetoed welfare reform twice before reluctantly signing it,'' Hughes said.
Bush's campaigning in California came as a new independent poll suggested that he might have a real shot here. In a survey of more than 2,000 adults taken before Gore announced his running mate, the Public Policy Institute of California found that Gore had 40 percent of the support, while Bush had 37 percent. With a 2.5 to 3.5 percent margin of error, that would mean the two were running in a dead heat.
In his appearances yesterday, McCain provided a little more humor than is normal at Bush campaign events, calling Bush ''a good, decent man, with his wonderful wife - the brains of the outfit.''
Both Bush and McCain brushed off questions about their differences, despite occasional signs of lingering animosity between the two staffs.
''I campaigned with John McCain. I campaigned against John McCain,'' Bush said. ''We've gone full cycle. Primaries are family squabbles. It was a tough campaign. I'm a better candidate as a result of John entering the race. He ran a great race; he really did. We were friends before, and we're friends now.''
McCain jumped in, adding: ''We share the core principles of the Republican party. ... Primaries are tough. They aren't bean bag.''
Later in the afternoon, as the train rolled throughout the farm hills of Central California, Bush and McCain held a wide-ranging discussion with reporters, talking about everything from their evolving relationship to the tactics of the Gore campaign. The two men appeared relatively at ease with one another, although both seemed to choose their words with care.
Asked whether he would attend a Bush fund-raiser that drew in so-called soft money, McCain said he would prefer not to, but refused to condemn Bush for holding such events. Indeed, McCain practically gave Bush a green light to raise soft money, saying it would be unfair to ask him to ''unilaterally disarm.''
Bush, in turn, said he would never ask McCain to attend. ''I'm his friend,'' he said.
