Among Democrats in Congress, Disputes on Leaders and Agenda

Democratic leaders are debating how to deal with Sen. Joseph I. Lieberman, who caucuses with their party but campaigned for John McCain. (By Brendan Hoffman -- Getty Images)

Democrats will control at least 57 seats, giving them a margin large enough that they may risk Lieberman crossing the aisle to caucus with the GOP.

As he left an hour-long meeting with Majority Leader Harry M. Reid (D-Nev.), Lieberman told reporters that the "election is over" and it is time to come together.

"We must now unite to get our economy going again and to keep the American people safe. That is exactly what I intend to do with my colleagues here in the Senate in support of our new president, and those are the standards I will use when considering the options that I have before me," Lieberman said.

Reid said no final decision will come until a planned Nov. 18 meeting of the Senate Democratic Caucus. Democrats grew increasingly angry with Lieberman, their 2000 vice presidential nominee -- who lost his Democratic Senate primary in 2006 but won reelection as an independent -- because of his criticism of Obama's foreign policy credentials while he stumped for Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.).

Senior aides suggested that revoking Lieberman's chairmanship of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee would be the likely penalty. He would receive a subcommittee chairmanship on that panel and retain his subcommittee chairmanship on the Armed Services Committee, they said.

As they handle the internal disputes, Democrats also are trying to plot an agenda with the new president's top advisers. Congressional staffers are talking to Obama aides about how to structure this month's lame-duck session and the start of Congress, but have not made a formal decision on the order of bills.

Democrats say the economy will be the initial focus next year.

Rep. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) said Democrats also expect to quickly pass bills early next year that will allow federal funding for embryonic stem cell research and add funds to the State Children's Health Insurance Program, which serves low-income children. Bush vetoed both proposals, but Obama has said he supports them.

Van Hollen said Congress also should push ahead on Obama's proposal for more broad-based middle-class tax cuts.

But Democrats first must referee possible races for two leadership spots. Van Hollen is in the mix for Emanuel's current job as chairman of the House Democratic Caucus, considered the No. 4 leadership post, but must contend with Rep. John B. Larson (D-Conn.), the vice chairman of the caucus. Other lawmakers, including some from the black and Hispanic caucuses, are considering bids for Emanuel's and Larson's positions.

Staff writers Kendra Marr and Steven Mufson contributed to this report.