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Dems juggle Iraq, economy |
“We absolutely agree that Congress has that power, needs to exercise that power and we’ll work with them to do so,” said Jeff Blum, executive director of USAction, a grassroots liberal advocacy group.
The fact that groups loyal to the Democratic Party announced a big Iraq push just as Senate Democrats plan to move quickly away from the war this week is another indication that uncertainty over who will be the Democratic presidential nominee is having an impact on who will set the party’s agenda. Messages will likely continue to be mixed until either Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) or Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-N.Y.) secures the nod, analysts say.
Despite the expected defeat of the Democratic Iraq measures Tuesday, anti-war activists say Republicans are in the tougher position. And Democratic leadership aides say that the votes will again portray the stark difference between the two parties on the issue.
“Their base still thinks the war should be supported, and they’re reluctant to break from the president, but they’re facing an electorate that’s more diverse and more independent,” said John Isaacs, executive director for the anti-war group Council for a Livable World. “In 2008, the strategy from the Democratic leadership seems to be to force the Republicans to go on record for the war, or break with their president and presidential nominee.”
J. Taylor Rushing and Walter Alarkon contributed to this story.
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