Perry's campaign circulated a video showing Clinton sharing a hug and an air kiss with Hutchison at a museum event and Clinton praising Hutchison as "my partner on many fronts."

Hutchison's campaign criticized Perry as hypocritical, pointing to a 1993 letter he wrote calling Clinton's health care reform efforts "commendable."

Both failed to note they have lots of company in consorting with Clinton.

DeLay, the GOP's standard-bearer of conservatism, teamed up with Clinton in 2003 to host a screening of the film "Antwone Fisher" and write an opinion piece for USA Today promoting their mutual pet cause of improving foster care.

Clinton of New York and DeLay of Sugar Land also shared a stage in 2000 when the lawmakers were honored for their foster care work. She called him the "whip of all whips" on foster care legislation, and they traded smiles and posed for photos together.

Earlier this month, Republican Sens. Rick Santorum of Pennsylvania and Sam Brownback of Kansas joined Clinton and Sen. Joe Lieberman, D-Conn., in re-introducing legislation providing $90 million for research into how media affect children.

Clinton's office said she has a long list of across-the-aisle cooperation. Spokesman Philippe Reines said Clinton is proud of her work with Hutchison.

Such bipartisan relationships are common in the Senate, which is still considered the "gentleman's club" of the congressional chambers, an expert on Congress said.

Some of the greatest collegiality occurs among the women senators, said Kenneth Weinstein of the Hudson Institute, a conservative think tank.

Weinstein said Republicans' joining Clinton on issues or at events is relatively normal, especially as the former first lady has tried to move to the political center.

"She's not Ted Kennedy," he said, referring to the liberal Massachusetts Democrat.

Hutchison campaign manager Terry Sullivan said the senator is not embarrassed by her work with Clinton.

"President Bush has worked with Ted Kennedy and Hillary Clinton and Bill Clinton as recently as the tsunami relief," Sullivan said. President Bush appointed his father, former President Bush and former president Clinton to head a nationwide private fund-raising effort for countries devastated by the deadly December tsunami.

Luis Saenz, Perry's campaign director, said the campaign is reviewing votes, public appearances and speeches of all potential challengers. He wouldn't criticize the other Republicans who have worked with Clinton.

"They are not a potential opponent. We're not monitoring them," Saenz said.

© 2005 Associated Press.

Editor's note: