Democrats' Divisions on Iraq Threaten Shaky Seats in 2008 Races

[Purveyor]

March 13 (Bloomberg) -- The House Democrats' struggle to find common ground on the Iraq war is rooted in the dilemma facing two freshmen representatives: John Hall and Nick Lampson.

Hall, 58, of New York, belongs to the Congressional Progressive Caucus and is an ally of the anti-war group MoveOn.org. He says he won't back a ``war without end'' and wants U.S. troops home by year's end, a stance that helped him unseat a popular incumbent Republican in November.

Lampson, 62, says he wouldn't vote for any measure that constrains President George W. Bush's ability to wage war. Lampson said his votes on Iraq may determine whether he will be able to keep his Texas seat, which was previously held by former Republican Majority Leader Tom DeLay.

``It's my feeling that my constituents do not support restraining funds for our troops, and they don't support, nor do I support, artificial timelines for withdrawing our troops,'' Lampson said in an interview.

Lampson and Hall are among 30 Democrats who won seats from Republicans in 2006, giving the party a 15-seat House majority. For Democrats in Congress, finding Iraq proposals lawmakers such as Hall and Lampson will both agree to -- and that won't imperil their support back home -- is vital to their hopes of retaining power in next year's elections.

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