The President's advisers dispute the notion that he has flip-flopped on this issue the way he did, for example, on policies regarding Haiti and Bosnia.

But other advisers at the meeting disputed that interpretation of the law.

Mr. Kerry's aides said they had a statistically significant lead in Ohio and New Hampshire as well, but Mr. Bush's advisers disputed that.

Other advisers disputed that contention.

Mr. Lazio's advisers disputed the findings of the Times/CBS poll, and said their own polls showed the race to be tighter.

Mr. Clinton's advisers dispute the notion that they want the impasse between Congress and the White House to continue on gun control - or any other issue.

But Mr. Forrester's advisers vehemently disputed the notion that companies like BeneCard are to blame for prescription costs.

Mr. Kerry's advisers disputed that, saying that Mr. Kerry was laying out a clear case for his candidacy as he traveled across the country.

He took the stage to the song, "September," by Earth, Wind and Fire, as his advisers disputed the significance of polls so far in advance of the Sept. 11 primary that show him trailing the field.

But Mr. Clinton's advisers did not dispute the contention of some analysts that the political lift from the bombing may be would be fleeting.