House and Senate Democrats are taking a centrist path this election-year summer, following the lead of Barack Obama, who has increased his coordination with congressional leaders.

Democrats have decided to focus on economic and security issues designed to appeal to a wide range of voters, especially independents who are concerned about soaring gas prices and the slumping stock and housing markets.

The most prominent example is an overhaul of the nation’s intelligence surveillance laws that Senate Democrats passed Wednesday with Obama’s support. Many liberals staunchly oppose the bill, which would grant legal immunity to telecommunications companies that shared customers’ private data with intelligence authorities.

The symmetry between Obama and congressional Democrats contrasts with Sen. John McCain (Ariz.), the presumptive GOP presidential nominee who has broken with his party on several high-profile issues. An economic plan McCain unveiled this week included a proposal to allow cheap prescription drug imports from other countries, something that most Republicans oppose.

McCain has split with the majority of his party by favoring immigration reform that would create a path to citizenship for illegal residents. McCain is also at odds with his party over drilling in Alaska’s Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.

Obama has done more to help Democrats on the Hill raise money for their reelections. He has drafted fundraising letters for the Democratic House and Senate campaign committees, while McCain has not made similar appeals on behalf of the Republican campaign committees. He also skipped a major fundraiser headlined by President Bush to benefit Republican congressional candidates.

As they begin to march in lockstep with Obama, Democrats have eschewed tactics designed to rev up their political base for the fall election. Specifically, they have jettisoned the strategy favored by Republicans in recent election years of scheduling highly political votes during the summer in order to energize base voters.  
In the summer before the 2006 elections, the Republican majority voted on a long-shot proposal to amend the U.S. Constitution to prohibit flag burning. They also voted on legislation to ban “fetal farming” and to protect gun owners during national emergencies, as well as proposals to stem the flow of immigration from Mexico — all initiatives popular with their conservative base.

“Our base is just fine,” said Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), who said Democrats are concentrating instead on bills with broad appeal among Democrats, independents and centrist Republicans.

Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) announced Monday that the Senate would focus this month on passing the overhaul of intelligence laws; a measure preventing cuts in doctors’ Medicare payments; legislation addressing high gas prices; a consumer product safety bill; and federal aid for home energy costs.  

A senior Republican Senate aide said the Democrats’ floor strategy shows that appealing to independent voters has become their top concern.

The staffer said Democratic leaders have little choice because Obama has adopted a centrist course in recent weeks.

In addition to throwing his support behind the compromise intelligence bill, Obama has spoken out on the importance of personal responsibility and family values and emphasized his patriotism, all themes that Republicans tend to sound during election years. Obama has also called for federal assistance to faith-based social programs and recalibrated his rhetoric on the Iraq war.

Sen. Kent Conrad (D-N.D.) said the congressional agenda reflects Obama’s pragmatic approach.

“These are all addressing practical problems, which is very much his style,” said Conrad, citing a bill designed to reduce home foreclosures, the so-called Medicare payment fix, extended tax incentives for energy production and the intelligence overhaul.

Durbin said that Senate leaders are talking to Obama about his policy priorities, specifically about his energy policy proposals.

Durbin added that Democratic leaders and Obama are beginning to feel that they “can speak with one voice as a party about our agenda for November.”

House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) pointed out that Obama’s new congressional liaison, Phil Schiliro, attended a Democratic leadership meeting Tuesday afternoon as well as a meeting of House Democratic chairmen. Up until this month, Schiliro was a longtime aide to Rep. Henry Waxman (D-Calif.).

Hoyer outlined the House agenda for July and September during a Wednesday meeting with reporters.
House Democrats will focus on legislation designed to ease broad concerns about the economy instead of liberal hot-button issues. Hoyer cited legislation designed to address the price of energy and the mounting federal deficit, an issue popular among so-called Blue Dog Democrats.  

“We’re also going to be looking at our concern for the economy, which I’ve expressed: loss of jobs, the price of gas, the price of groceries.”

Hoyer said Democrats hope soon to pass housing legislation that would create a $300 billion program to help homeowners facing foreclosure to refinance their mortgages at lower rates.

Democrats will consider an impeachment resolution against President Bush introduced by Rep. Dennis Kucinich (D-Ohio) on Wednesday. But a vote on the proposal does not reflect any desire by Democratic leaders to wage a fight that has little support in Congress. Kucinich forced his proposal onto the congressional agenda by way of a procedural maneuver.

Hoyer said he expected the House to vote to refer the resolution to committee level, where it is expected to remain for the rest of Bush’s tenure.