Democrats are marching through their legislative agenda as they near the fall election season, scoring several key victories and forcing President Bush to abandon his veto threats.

The latest triumph came Wednesday when Bush dropped his opposition to a massive housing-rescue bill and the House subsequently passed the measure, 272-152. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) can add that win to her party overriding Bush on a water resources bill, the farm bill and an effort to stave off sharp cuts to doctors under Medicare. They also forced the president to back down on GI education benefits and unemployment compensation — both of them included against his wishes in the emergency war-spending bill.

“We overrode him four times, I think he knows we can do it,” said Rep. Jason Altmire (D-Pa.). “We’re bringing forward good legislation and he’s going against public opinion.”

Republican lawmakers watching the campaign calendar are running for cover, refusing to back Bush on his conservative stances and handing victories to Pelosi.

“There’s no advantage in being identified as a White House lackey,” said Rep. Tom Davis (R-Va.), who’s been delivering stinging advice to his conference. “They’ve picked bad issues to make a stand on.”

White House officials are downplaying the importance of Bush changing his mind on the housing bill, after threatening to reject it over $4 billion in block grants to local governments to buy foreclosed properties.

“When legislation finally comes to the president’s desk, it often has a few things in there that he might not be able to support, or that he wouldn’t have recommended,” said Bush spokeswoman Dana Perino, “but when there is bipartisan support for a bill, he will sign it.”

The housing legislation would throw a lifeline to troubled homeowners and reform the oversight of mortgage giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.

The bill also includes an administration plan to shore up the two companies, which have seen their share prices plummet amid fears they would become insolvent.