Ads Featuring Wounded Mark Iraq Debate

"We're not organizing any major grass-roots push," said Steve Robertson, legislative director for the American Legion.

Rep. Jim Saxton, R-N.J., read a letter from Gary Kurpius, a Vietnam veteran and commander of the VFW, urging members to vote against the resolution opposing the troop increase.

"We have to let our generals be generals and wage this war as only they are trained to do, and have hope that the announced troop buildup will be the final key that's needed by the Iraqis to build a secure and united country," Kurpius wrote.

Saxton on Tuesday hosted a briefing with ambassadors from Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Jordan and Qatar, all of whom argued against a precipitous withdrawal of U.S. troops. About 50 Republicans attended that session.

Americans Against the Escalation, on the other hand, has raised $2.2 million and spent $1.6 million so far this year, with much of the money devoted to ads pressuring Republican senators to oppose the troop buildup.

After the Senate debate over the buildup stalled, activists turned their attention to the House, though a tour of key congressional districts this week was canceled because of harsh weather in many parts of the country.

Organizers are planning a series of press conferences and rallies in 34 states to pressure lawmakers to distance themselves from Bush's plan. The campaign is de-emphasizing traditional anti-war voices and pushing state organizers to recruit veterans, labor leaders and members of the clergy to act as spokesmen against the Bush administration.

A memorandum to organizers of the coalition, Americans Against the Escalation In Iraq, encourages them to amass a "diverse group of widely respected citizens."

"If the targeted member of Congress is Catholic, a priest could be a particularly persuasive partner," the memorandum states.

Republicans opposed to the troop increase say they have been less persuaded by activists groups than they have been by the sight of dead soldiers returning to their congressional districts.

"Of all the major influences, it's going to the viewings and funerals of those who lost their lives in Iraq and Afghanistan," said Rep. Michael Castle, R-Del. "These are young people, usually in their 20s, whose whole lives were ahead of them. You want to see that stopped."

Rep. Wayne Gilchrest, another Republican who opposes Bush's plan, said he senses "an urgency" across his rural eastern Maryland district to end the conflict in Iraq.

"I see people in the post office, many people whose children and grandchildren are in their third tour," he said. "People are looking to resolve this with conversations, with dialogue."