Mr. Giuliani was out and about, for sure, and got a big hello from President Bush at a party held by a delegation from Texas on Wednesday night. And both Mr. Pataki and Mr. Giuliani sat in a special presidential box during the inauguration. But while Mr. Giuliani had a relatively small reception at the Washington Hotel during the inaugural parade, with no reporters allowed inside the building, Mr. Pataki invited hundreds of people to the ESPN Zone, a three-story themed playland of a restaurant along the parade route.

While Mr. Giuliani sent out a select number of invitations to his private event, Mr. Pataki sent hundreds of laminated "Pataki Passes" to people across New York and the nation, including all 350 members of the Iowa delegation. The governor's party was an extravaganza with three fountains oozing chocolate fondue, a pasta bar, an omelet bar - and several open bars for alcohol. There were more than 150 television screens (in the bathrooms, too), bowling and video games, and the food displays were decorated with ice sculptures that said "Pataki Pass," too.

Pataki reached out to future Iowa delegates. Rudy did not. The Times says it may be significant:

perhaps more important was the presence [at Pataki's party] of Diane Crookham-Johnson. She is the state finance chairwoman for the Iowa Republican Party. And as anyone with presidential aspiration knows, Iowa holds the nation's first presidential caucus.

Ms. Crookham-Johnson said that Mr. Giuliani had not reached out to the Iowa inaugural guests the way Mr. Pataki had, and that in a state that holds a caucus, where voters gather in homes to discuss whom they want to back, she thought Mr. Pataki's approach could help.

"I think it makes a difference," she said. "There is a lot of support and a lot of interest in Governor Pataki if he is interested in '08." She said that Iowans look at candidates and think: "How would I feel with this person in my living room, because they will be." And of Mr. Pataki, she said, "He's someone you feel comfortable with, you'd want to invite into your house."

John Kerry also made a strategic return to the spotlight at the Inauguration.

Fox News also made its presence known, with Geraldo emceeing the "Heroes Red, White and Blue Inaugural Ball." Head of the musical lineup: Michael Bolton.

Also participating were Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld, Deputy Defense Secretary Paul Wolfowitz, Joint Chiefs Chairman Air Force Gen. Richard Myers, and Veterans Affairs Secretary Anthony Principi.