WASHINGTON – Tom McClintock and Charlie Brown are staying at the same Hyatt Regency on Capitol Hill, where they first bumped into each other Sunday night.

They've toured the Capitol together. They've dined together at the Library of Congress. And tonight the two men and their wives will attend a reception for incoming freshman Congress members at the U.S. Botanic Garden.

There's only one problem: Neither has been elected to Congress.

With thousands of ballots yet to be counted in California's 4th Congressional District, McClintock, the Republican, clung to a 562-vote lead – out of nearly 340,000 counted so far – over his Democratic opponent. But with the race so close, both men are taking part in a weeklong orientation for newcomers on Capitol Hill.

The rivals find themselves spending plenty of time together in very close quarters.

"Obviously, it's a little awkward, but I'm watching the numbers," said McClintock, who has told supporters his analysis of county totals shows it is likely he will win. "I think it's a lot easier on me than it is on him right now."

As they lobby their party leaders for committee assignments and attend a slew of sessions on the nuts and bolts of transitioning to a congressman, both men are busy projecting themselves as victors in the fight to replace Republican Rep. John Doolittle.

When the newcomers arrived at the Capitol for their official class photograph, Brown was among the first to get off the bus and get in line. "I'm in my normal role, being one of the leaders," Brown said. "Tom, being a follower, was quite a ways back."

McClintock noted that the vast majority of uncounted ballots are coming from counties where he fared better than Brown.

When the final tally comes in, McClintock predicted that he will win the race by 1,000 to 2,000 votes.

"Everybody can see where it's going," McClintock said.

The House paid for airfare and hotel accommodations for both McClintock and Brown, and each was allowed to bring one staff member. Spouses must pay their own way under House rules.

Brown, a retired lieutenant colonel in the Air Force, got a chance to see his party's leader, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi of San Francisco, when she dropped by to welcome the newcomers. He said he's hoping to get seats on the Natural Resources, Intelligence, Veterans Affairs or Armed Services committees.

And Brown, who stressed bipartisanship in his campaign, said he has been talking with Democrats and Republicans alike on how the parties can work together.

"This is just a continuation of the overall theme of putting the country first and getting some things done," he said.

McClintock, a state senator, said he planned to meet with House Minority Leader John Boehner of Ohio to press his case to join either the Natural Resources or Transportation and Infrastructure committees. He declined to take sides in the leadership battle between Boehner and California Republican Rep. Dan Lungren, which could be decided Wednesday.

"I'm still new around here," McClintock said. "I think before you take a public position, you ought to watch them in action for a while."

Much of the orientation is focused on management details, with the incoming freshmen learning about the House's pay and benefits, personnel policies, health and wellness programs and how to handle office budgets and hire staff members.

McClintock said he will participate in an office lottery for newcomers on Friday morning if Brown has conceded by then.

Otherwise, he said, the House clerk will make the pick for the office to be occupied by either McClintock or Brown.

Brown said he's hardly ready to concede.

"We're still going for the win here," he said.

Call Rob Hotakainen, McClatchy Washington Bureau, (202) 383-0009.