Newsview: Ad Backlash Rallies GOP on War

U.S soldier's from Bravo 6-9 Cav. Troop leave their temporarily base during operation Saber Hammer 3 on the outskirts of Muqdadiyah, Iraq, 90 kilometers (60 miles) north of Baghdad, Tuesday, Sept. 18, 2007. (AP Photo/Karel Prinsloo) (Karel Prinsloo - AP)

"The most important thing you have is your credibility. And when you're wrong on Iraq, you lose your credibility," said Shays, whose initial support of the invasion nearly cost him his House seat.

With Rumsfeld, said Rep. J. Randy Forbes, R-Va., the justification of the war was difficult to take off the table. With Gates, "he steps up to the plate, and says 'Let's put that aside right now because we're here now,'" he said.

In the Senate, where just a few Republican votes can tip the outcome, Gates allied himself with Sen. John Warner to make his case against one Democratic proposal in particular _ a measure by Sen. Jim Webb, D-Va., that would have guaranteed troops more time at home.

Widely seen as the Democrats' best shot, the bill was rejected by a 56-44 vote, falling four votes short of the 60 needed to pass.

Two days before the vote, Gates traveled to Williamsburg in Warner's home state to speak with the senator at a democracy forum. Warner, R-Va., returned to Washington to announce he could no longer support the proposal, despite having voted for it in July.

Gates made other personal appeals, including a phone call to Alexander and other senators warning them the bill would be disastrous for the military.

Hours before the vote, the Pentagon dispatched two senior Army generals _ Lt. Gen. Carter Ham, director of operations on the Joint Staff, and Lt. Gen. James Lovelace, a deputy Army chief of staff _ to brief lawmakers on the potential consequences of the bill.

Among those attending were Sens. Alexander, Lisa Murkowski of Alaska and Bob Corker of Tennessee _ three Republicans who said they had been considering supporting the measure, but who ultimately rejected it.

Democrats say the fight is far from over. Public opinion still remains firmly in their corner, and they believe as the 2008 elections inch closer, Republicans will be in a tighter spot.

But for now, the White House seems to have bought itself some time.

"Am I satisfied with where we are? No," said Murkowski, R-Alaska. But "are we all moving in the same direction? Probably."

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Anne Flaherty covers military and foreign affairs on Capitol Hill.