John Kerry's presidential campaign was close to broke not long ago, but now he and his aides are traveling in style.

Then aides traveling with him got a call with one of the most dreaded messages in government - 10-13, officer down.

So perhaps it was no surprise that aides traveling with Mr. Bush were striving to note some accomplishments.

Secretary Powell and aides traveling with him underscored that discussions within the administration were still under way and that no decisions had yet been made.

They suggested prosecutors are closely examining conversations between aides traveling with the Mr. Bush and colleagues or reporters in Washington.

Mr. Scoppetta and his aides have traveled to Los Angeles and observed firsthand the program, which began in 1992.

An aide traveling with Ms. Rice declined to discuss any specific military matters, other than to say that the security concerns of both countries would be discussed on her trip.

And aides traveling with Mr. Bush this week did their best to contend that he was not paying a stitch of attention to Mr. Chávez.

Mr. Ravitch and a few aides traveled in his Jeep Wagoneer and a 1985 Renault Fuego.

The idea, suggested one senior Chinese aide traveling with the Prime Minister, is that a few jokes can leaven the impressions of ordinary Americans and make critics seem dogmatic.