http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/10/19/AR2006101901384_pf.htmlIn Richmond, Allen may have gotten a bit more support from the president than he wanted; after Bush departed, Allen seemed to distance himself from some of Bush's tough talk on Iraq.
As he and his wife, Susan, stood next to Bush in front of a huge U.S. flag, the president excoriated Democrats on national security and taxes. "They would have our country quit in Iraq before the job is done," Bush said. "That's why they are the party of cut and run. We will fight. We will stay. We will win in Iraq."
After the speech, the senator's aides brought Allen out to meet with reporters, where he softened the tone, saying that "America needs to adjust. Our battlefield commanders need to adjust and adapt to this evolving threat."
With polls showing that a growing number of Virginia voters are questioning whether the war was worth fighting, Allen has, in recent days, repeatedly sought to align himself with the commonwealth's senior senator, John W. Warner (R), who recently returned from Iraq and has been critical about the war's progress.
"John Warner and I discuss this . . . almost daily," Allen said, adding that a sudden withdrawal would "leave our country much less secure." Asked whether he agreed with Bush's "cut and run" statement, Allen said, "I'm not going to get in an argument here about the president's words versus my words."
He added: "The president has his ideas on Iraq, John Warner has his and I have mine."