Iraq Vote Could Resonate In 2008

But even her likely opponent, Rep. Tom Allen, was reluctant to criticize her positioning on the debate. Although the six-term House Democrat said opposition to the war appears to be growing in Maine, there is no consensus among voters on a way forward. "It's such a complicated issue," Allen said. "The ideas of what to do range from cut the funding now to stay the course and give it a little more time."

Indeed, many political experts think the Iraq situation is far too fluid to anticipate how it might play in the next election. Charles E. Schumer (N.Y.), the Senate Democrats' campaign chairman for 2006 and 2008, has warned party strategists and candidates not to expect Iraq to pack the political punch in the next cycle that it did last year.

But even the most seasoned veterans acknowledged that voters expect Congress to take a more active role in the war debate.

"There's just a general unrest in a lot of people," said Sen. Ted Stevens (R-Alaska), who is expected to seek an eighth term in 2008. "We've had a lot of people over there. We've lost a lot of people from Alaska."

One of the strongest factions is a group of Republicans, including some up for reelection next year from solid red states, who have vowed to filibuster any resolution opposing Bush's troop policy. Kansas may be showing a glimmer of Democratic blue, with a Democratic governor and a newly elected House Democrat, Nancy Boyda, but Sen. Pat Roberts (R-Kan.), the intelligence committee chairman at the outset of the war and for its first three years, called the various proposals "confetti resolutions" with no value.

Sen. Saxby Chambliss (R-Ga.) said he feels no political pressure, despite a looming reelection campaign that will be his first.

"Nobody likes war, but I come from a very military-oriented state," Chambliss said.

"They don't want to see us pour more people into a hopeless cause," Sen. Jeff Sessions (R-Ala.), another 2008 candidate, said of his home-state voters. "But they don't want us to leave if there's a realistic opportunity to be successful. I think they expect us to be smart and wise and do the right thing."

Democratic Sens. Russell Feingold (Wis.) and Christopher J. Dodd (Conn.) have announced that they will oppose the Warner resolution because they do not think it is tough enough, and they could bring a handful of Democrats with them. But those balking Democrats are expected to oppose Republican efforts to block the bill through parliamentary tactics.

Senate Democratic Whip Richard J. Durbin (Ill.) said he was reminding his colleagues that "you're not putting a stamp of approval" on the resolution by allowing the debate to proceed. "We should all remember the engine that's pulling this train -- disapproval of the escalation. All the problems we have, have nothing to do with that issue," Durbin said.

Washingtonpost.com staff writer Paul Kane contributed to this report.