2006 Looms as a Test Of National vs. Local Issues

Waving the Flag

Are recent negative comments by Democratic National Committee Chairman Howard Dean as well as Sens. Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.) and John F. Kerry (D-Mass.) regarding the war in Iraq demoralizing U.S. troops and emboldening the enemy? The Republican National Committee seems to thinks so.

An Internet ad (read: video news release designed to gin up the party's base) released late last week by the RNC casts remarks by Dean, Boxer and Kerry as evidence that the Democratic plan for Iraq is "retreat and defeat."

A white flag waves over an image of Dean as he says that "the idea we are going to win this war is an idea, unfortunately, that is just plain wrong." More white-flag waving accompanies Boxer's call for a withdrawal of troops beginning after Thursday's Iraqi parliamentary elections and Kerry's assertion that U.S. troops are unnecessarily going into "the homes of Iraqis in the dead of night, terrorizing kids, children, women."

An on-screen billboard, which, as the camera pans back, is being read by a soldier scolds: "Our soldiers are watching, and our enemies are too. Message to Democrats . . . retreat and defeat is not an option."

"If personal attacks helped us fight terrorism, Osama bin Laden would be dead right now instead of recruiting new terrorists," DNC spokeswoman Karen Finney said.

Quotable

Two Democratic lawmakers from New Jersey were asked whether they would rule out a 2006 primary challenge to newly appointed Sen. Bob Menendez (D-N.J.).

"I will consult with my family, friends and supporters in order to determine the best way to advance the causes and ideals to which I have devoted my efforts in Congress." -- Rep. Robert E. Andrews

"I have been preparing for a primary, and now will weigh my options of whether to proceed." -- Rep. Frank Pallone Jr.

Cillizza is a staff writer for washingtonpost.com. The Fix, his online politics column, appears daily at www.washingtonpost.com/thefix.