Obama Team Works With Hill Democrats

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Obama is Democratic Nominee for President

The third night of the Democratic National Convention kicked off with a traditional roll call vote, in which state delegations cast votes to designate the Democratic presidential nominee. Former President Bill Clinton and Sen. Joe Biden (D-Del.) will address the convention Wednesday night.

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Congress would also likely take up Obama's economic stimulus package quickly, which includes one-time tax rebates to help offset rising energy costs, and money for state and local governments to fund infrastructure projects and cope with rising health-care spending. Senate Majority Whip Richard J. Durbin (D-Ill.) said he recently spoke to Obama and that the agenda would include Iraq, health care and global warming. But, Durbin added, "his mind is really fixed on the economy. That might eclipse everything."

After those first bills, Democrats are split. Some Democratic leaders are already fretting about the lessons of 1993, when Bill Clinton took office with Democratic majorities in the House and Senate and immediately moved to try to enact deficit reduction through tax increases, universal health care, an overhaul of the nation's welfare laws and new gun controls. Democrats lost control of Congress the next year in a wave of voter discontent and anger.

"Normally, when all your dreams are realized in an election, that's when it becomes a nightmare," Moran said. "2008 could be a dream election. 2010 could be a disaster."

Those Democrats worry that the withdrawal of combat forces from Iraq alone could leave Democrats politically vulnerable in 2010, especially if violence flares. Committee chairmen have been advised to steer clear of troop withdrawal legislation until the spring, to give Obama time to mobilize a diplomatic offensive and get the Iraqi government and its neighbors more involved in maintaining regional stability.

In tandem with that challenge, the prospect of defeat on an issue as big as universal health insurance is already kindling memories of 1994. Some Democrats argue that Obama should start with universal health insurance for children and a federally backed catastrophic health insurance fund that would lower the costs of traditional insurance policies and take the pressure off businesses tempted to drop employee coverage.

Schumer said they should stick to the "vowels": energy, immigration, education and Iraq. But other Democrats say they need to think big and move fast.

"My experience is the president's best chance for a big idea is his first year. After that, you're already into another election cycle," Durbin said.

Rangel said: "All I know is, I want to see America educated, healthy and with enough money in their pockets to go out and get a good job and raise a family. And we're going to have a ball doing that."

One challenge that seems destined for the back burner is balancing a federal budget that has been swimming in red ink for eight years. Obama and leaders in the House and Senate insist they will stick to the party's reinstituted rules to pay for new spending or tax cuts with offsetting tax hikes or spending cuts. But that would only stabilize the deficit, approaching $500 billion, not reduce it.

"People have to understand how far the road back is to sea level," Pelosi said.

How all this unfolds will depend at first on the scope of a Democratic victory in November, leaders say. A strong win for Obama and congressional Democrats would force Republicans into the new president's camp and allow him to be more aggressive. A narrow win would force him to make good on his promises to meet Republicans halfway and find truly bipartisan compromise.

"As whip, I am just praying for a number as close to 60 as possible," Durbin said. "I don't know if we can reach it, but it's possible."

Staff writer Paul Kane contributed to this report.