1.   And McCain, who had ancestors who fought for the South during the Civil War, has been as uncomfortable as Bush on the Confederate flag issue.

2.   Atlanta is officially off the hook with its Confederate flag issue, at least as far as the National Association of Basketball Coaches is concerned.

3.   Both broached the emotionally and racially charged flag issue in thundering speeches from the House floor the year before their re-election bids.

4.   Bush has said he would defer to South Carolinian public opinion on the flag issue.

5.   George W. Bush and John McCain have planted themselves on the wrong side of the Confederate flag issue.

6.   He said the federation decided to take a public stance on the flag issue after being encouraged to do so by some of its officers and athletes.

7.   Hodges is expected to address the flag issue during his State of the State remarks to the Legislature today.

8.   In South Carolina, a delegation that included former Gov. John West met privately Tuesday with Gov. Jim Hodges on the flag issue.

9.   In Mississippi, a sentiment voiced by people on either side of the issue is that their legislators ducked their responsibility by not settling the flag issue.

10.   In previous presidential campaigns, the flag issue in South Carolina came and went quickly with little fanfare or lasting impact.