The audience last night mostly milled about socializing, and many of them left after the Presidential appearance.

The exchange with Mr. Graves came in what was intended to be the most routine kind of Presidential appearance.

"Some might have suspected that this sermon topic was chosen with the eye to a possible Presidential appearance," he told the congregation.

Further, she has been instrumental in suggesting Presidential appearances on the drug issue.

Mr. Clinton collected a total of $1.1 million at his three Midwest stops, including just $350,000 in Chicago, where a Presidential appearance 15 months ago had raised $1 million.

Presidential appearances reflect the unexpectedly competitive nature of the race, especially for Republicans in a year they are already facing the likely loss of a half-dozen other governor's seats.

A Presidential appearance to raise money in a mayoral race, even one as important as New York's, is unusual enough.

Security was almost as tight as for a Presidential appearance, what with additional metal detectors that were set up after a bomb scare last Friday.

By the end of the day, all Presidential appearances through Thursday had been canceled.

At moments like today's speech to the religious broadcasters, Mr. Bush's demeanor changes markedly from his usual campaign and Presidential appearances.