While he didn't mention their names, it was clear by his choice of subjects who was getting the Back Of The Presidential Hand, as he took Senators Obama and Clinton to task for their views on the Iraq war, free trade agreements like NAFTA and more.

Mr. Bush especially came down hard on Obama's stated desire to meet with the new Cuban leader Raoul Castro, which drew a jab back from Obama in a written statement.

Part of me wonders whether Team Obama is spending a little too much time of late picking long distance verbal fights with John McCain and the White House. You would hate to battle with them only to find out that Hillary Clinton sneaks up on you and wins Ohio and Texas.

I do think this news conference shows one of the roles that President Bush can certainly play in the fall campaign. John McCain probably won't want Mr. Bush on the stump with him in a lot of states, but anytime that El Presidente opens his mouth and slaps around the Democratic nominee, that is going to make news.

And I think this President will be very happy to do that, especially on the issue of Iraq. You could almost see the old glint in his eye and the Texas Type Swagger when he was mocking the words of Obama about Al Qaeda in Iraq.

But for now, Mr. Bush isn't jumping in with guns blazing.

"Do you still think Hillary Clinton will be the nominee?" asked NBC's David Gregory as the President got ready to end his news conference.

"I'm not talking about politics," Mr. Bush said to general laughter in the press corps.