But Democratic Gov. Mark Warner and Republican U.S. Sen. George Allen hardly behaved like prospective political rivals during two joint appearances on Monday - not even when they were presented with matching pairs of winter boots as gifts from a community-based education organization. The L.L. Bean boots were not-so-subtle reminders that Warner and Allen could eventually have their toes pointed toward the states of Iowa and New Hampshire, the traditional early battleground states in the presidential campaign cycle. Both men get mentioned by pundits as possible 2008 candidates and neither says anything to dampen such speculation.

For now, both insist they have more pressing matters to address. Warner, who is barred by law from seeking re-election as governor, has seven months remaining in his administration. Allen faces a 2006 Senate re-election campaign and still wonders whether Warner will challenge him.

"I'm a football coach's son, and my father would always tell us or tell his players to focus on the task at hand," Allen said Monday.

Speculation about Warner's future reached a fever pitch late last week when news leaked that he plans to form a federal political action committee and hire a former top aide to former Vice President Al Gore to advise him on national politics. The leadership PAC will allow Warner to raise money for and contribute to Democratic candidates in next year's congressional elections.

Warner publicly discussed the development for the first time Monday morning, dismissing suggestions that it will divert his attention from his current job.

"I was a little surprised by the notion that somehow putting on a part-time consultant, as I think about what I may or may not do when I'm done with this job, generated that much press," Warner said.

Warner told reporters he has "a number of responsibilities" on his plate, including duties as chairman of the National Governors Association. The association will hold its annual meeting next month in Iowa, home of the precinct caucuses that will kick off the 2008 presidential campaign. Warner visited Iowa last week to prepare for the meeting.

Warner, 50, has cast himself as a centrist capable of forging bipartisan coalitions on key issues, such as the package of tax increases passed last year by the Republican-controlled General Assembly.

Warner said he has not ruled out another run for governor in 2009. But few Democrats expect him to challenge the widely popular Allen next year.

Allen, a former governor, knocked off Democratic Sen. Charles Robb in 2000. He gained national attention last year as chairman of the National Republican Senatorial Committee. Republicans gained four seats.

Allen, 53, said it was "flattering and humbling" to find his name at the top of an April National Journal poll in which political insiders ranked prospective presidential candidates in each party. The speculation continued when Allen made a Senate campaign fundraising trip to New Hampshire last month.

"There is a certain irony to it all," Allen said of the attention he and Warner are getting for their presumed national ambitions.

Allen joined Warner on Monday for the dedication of the renovated old state library - now called the Patrick Henry Building - that will house executive offices and serve as the General Assembly's home during restoration of the Capitol. He later lunched with Warner at a meeting of the Communities in Schools of Virginia, where both men hailed the evolution of the state's Standards of Learning tests.

Allen, who launched the SOL's amid controversy a decade ago, boasted of progress made by schools and students under the accountability standards. He also raised concerns that the federal No Child Left Behind Act could undermine that progress by forcing Virginia to "dumb down" its standards.

Allen praised Warner for holding the line on the state's accountability standards. Warner repeatedly referred to Allen as "my friend." At times, the two politicians looked as chummy and casual as fraternity brothers at a college reunion. When Allen left the Richmond Marriott in a Ford Explorer and headed back to Washington, D.C., Warner waved and yelled: "George - see you later, man."