The American Spectator

p> THE END OF A BEAUTIFUL FRIENDSHIP? br> Rep. Richard Burr appears to be in the catbird seat in his race for the Republican nomination to challenge Sen. John Edwards — or whomever the Democrat may be running for that seat — in 2004. But he shouldn’t get too cocky too soon. /p>

Burr was one of the Republicans in the House the White House targeted during the close vote over Medicare “reform.” In the waning hours of the debate last week, Burr was contacted several times by senior White House officials, perhaps even the President, though White House legislative aides declined to confirm that Bush was one of the people who called him.

Given the amount of support the White House had given Burr in his fundraising and in clearing the field of competition, you’d think Burr would be more than open to voting for a bill that President Bush wanted and needed badly. Instead Burr voted against the new entitlement, angering his fellow Republicans, the House leadership and the White House.

“It’s the White House’s fault,” says a Burr staffer. “They waited until the very end and then tried to put on the full court press. They knew we weren’t in love with this bill, and that we couldn’t support it.”

Already, there is talk of putting Burr in his place. The President, as well as the vice president, were both slated to appear at Burr events in the next six months. Now those appearances are in doubt. As well, the White House has discouraged — for now — Sen. Elizabeth Dole from sharing some of her donor lists from her 2002 campaign with the Burr camp.

p> HERE’S THE DEAL br> Private