The president is still standing behind the embattled Majority Leader of the House of Representatives, Tom Delay... for now.

As the profile of DeLay's various scandals rises, the White House is slowly putting more distance between the two Texas politicans.

Bush still calls DeLay a friend, although spokesman Scott McClellan pointedly noted last week that "there are different levels of friendship." The President's team is increasingly frustrated by the majority leader's inability to mount a defense more persuasive than blaming his problems on a liberal conspiracy. DeLay, says a senior Administration official, "is handling this like an idiot."