Demos are divided over looming war

WASHINGTON -- On this much at least, President Bush and Democrats who want to depose him agree: If war comes to Iraq, let it be quick and decisive.

Both sides also want to see the demise of Saddam Hussein, though for Democrats, the hope of getting past the war is partly political. It would give them a better a chance to campaign against Bush on the economy and to heal the divisions over Iraq within their party.

Those divisions surfaced repeatedly during the three-day meeting of the Democratic National Committee that ended Saturday, as anti- war speakers received louder applause than those who argued that force might be necessary to disarm Hussein.

As presidential contender Dick Gephardt, a House member from St. Louis, proclaimed, "I'm proud that I wrote the resolution that helped lead the president to finally make his case to the United Nations," an audience member shouted: "Shame!"

The crowd of Democratic activists from across the country roared when former Vermont Gov. Howard Dean opened his speech by declaring: "What I want to know is why in the world the Democratic Party leadership is supporting the president's unilateral attack on Iraq?"

Dean later said he would support military force if the United Nations authorized it. Other presidential candidates -- Rep. Dennis Kucinich, D-Ohio, former Illinois Sen. Carol Moseley Braun and the Rev. Al Sharpton of New York -- offered full-throated denunciations of Bush's policy toward Iraq.

Kucinich condemned the prospect of a war "initiated by our own government against a nation which did not attack us." Moseley Braun said the war would "isolate us in a country on perpetual alert," while Sharpton said Iraq is distracting the United States from dealing with a nuclear-armed North Korea and finally finding terrorist leader Osama bin Laden.

The better-known Democratic candidates -- Gephardt, Sen. John Kerry of Massachusetts, Sen. John Edwards of North Carolina and Sen. Joe Lieberman of Connecticut -- back the possible use of force. However, they acknowledged that their position is one that many of the primary voters don't share.

"I know that some in our party and our nation and many around the world are against the use of force in Iraq," said Lieberman. "But the history of the last century teaches us the consequences of unchecked power and unconventional weapons in the hands of an inhumane tyrant."

Democrats nonetheless said they were sure the confrontation with Iraq would soon be resolved, and they tried to smooth over their differences by stressing their unified opposition to Bush's economic policies.

"It will cause some heartburn in the party, but in the end the party will be able to come back together," said party strategist Donna Brazile, who managed former Vice President Al Gore's 2000 campaign against Bush.

The new Democratic candidates, already struggling to get attention for an election so distant, are working especially hard these days because if war breaks out soon, presidential campaigning would probably be suspended in order to present a united front, Democratic aides say.

"Democrats will stand with the Republicans in a bipartisan manner to support the troops overseas," said Democratic Party spokeswoman Jenny Backus.

If war goes badly, analysts said, it could benefit the Democrats politically. But party members said they want victory so that, when next year's election season begins in earnest, voters can focus on the domestic economy, homeland security and the remaining global fight against terrorism.

"What '04 is going to be about is the total picture of George Bush, both foreign and domestic," said DNC Chairman Terry McAuliffe. "And we'll be dealing with the aftermath of Iraq, whatever it may be."

Analysts noted, though, that a successful war would strengthen Bush politically. And Bush supporters said a quick win could remove much uncertainty holding back the economy, sparking a revival that could hurt the Democrats' plans.

The Democratic candidates already appear to be looking beyond any war in Iraq. They argued that Bush's bellicose approach has alienated long-time allies, making it that much harder to rebuild Iraq and counter any terrorist reprisals.

"The real test for America will come in the post-Saddam Iraq," said Edwards, arguing that the administration failed to follow through after military success in Afghanistan. "Will we make the commitment to give the Iraqi people a real chance for success, a real chance for a Democratic government?"

Kerry, who could not attend the DNC meeting because of recent prostate cancer surgery, said in a written statement that Democrats have had to "push" Bush into seeking international support rather than going it alone.

"Now we're pressing the United Nations to live by its own mandates and disarm Saddam Hussein peacefully or if necessary by a multilateral coalition," Kerry said. "We're winning that effort slowly, in spite of the administration's early missteps."

White House officials said the confrontation with Iraq is about national security, not politics.

"The president is focused on addressing the growing threat posed by Saddam Hussein and his weapons of mass destruction," spokesman Scott McClellan said. "We'll let others worry about 2004. That's not the president's focus."

McClellan noted the Democrats' disputes over foreign policy.

"Those differences create a lot of uncertainty about where the Democratic Party stands," he said.

Once war begins, aides to the various candidates said, the contenders would probably focus on behind-the-scenes activity, such as small fund-raisers and preparation for the delegation selection process that begins with the Iowa caucuses, scheduled for Jan. 19.

Their challenge, analysts said, is to not be seen as too political while the fight is raging.

"Democratic candidates ought to be not seen and not heard," said Charles Cook, publisher of a Washington-based political newsletter. "Even some fund raising -- if it were too visible -- would look bad at a time like that."

Candidates said it's a good time to take a break, anyway. Few people are paying attention to any of the campaigns, and many candidates will have congressional duties to worry about.

"I imagine we'll slow down for a while," said an aide to one campaign. "I imagine everybody will, which is fine -- this process starts too early anyway."

They acknowledge, though, that they are venturing into the unknown, with no clear sign of how war in Iraq might affect domestic politics.

As an aide to another Democratic candidate put it, "There's no way you can game this out."

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