ASHINGTON - In a sign of continuing friction between the two main combatants during the Republican presidential primary season, Senator John McCain of Arizona yesterday came close to canceling his much-anticipated May 9 meeting with Texas Governor George W. Bush. As of late yesterday, a McCain aide said the session might occur but remains ''tenuous.''
McCain, who is traveling in Vietnam, has been upset for weeks about comments about him by Bush aides. Most recently, McCain was angered at a Robert Novak column published yesterday that said, without attribution, that Bush aides anticipated ''all pain and little satisfaction'' from the meeting.
Bush aides had hoped that McCain would endorse Bush at the Pittsburgh session, but privately have said they are unsure whether the Arizona senator would, especially because Bush has no intention of endorsing McCain's campaign finance bill.
Aides gave differing answers yesterday about whether the meeting will occur. ''There was a period of uncertainty, which has been resolved,'' Bush spokesman Ari Fleischer said, asserting that the meeting will happen.
But McCain spokesman Todd Harris said that the meeting is ''tenuous'' and that no decision will be made until aides to Bush and McCain meet today to discuss a possible agenda for the session. McCain aides said the meeting must focus on issues, not on whether McCain would consider the vice presidential spot.
