Senate War Votes Hinge on GOP Class of 2002

[babylonsister]

Senate War Votes Hinge on GOP Class of 2002
By CQ Staff | 6:31 AM; Sep. 12, 2007

By Bart Jansen, CQ Staff


Republican senators in tough re-election contests expressed a range of reactions Tuesday to Gen. David H. Petraeus’ report to Congress.

The views of GOP incumbents facing tough races in 2008 are of particular importance because widespread defections could allow Democratic leaders to muster the 60 votes needed to get troop withdrawal language through the Senate.

After hearing Tuesday’s testimony by Petraeus, the preferences of those Republicans ranged from a totally new mission for U.S. forces, to continuing the current mission with as few as half the number of Americans that Petraeus suggested be deployed, to a flat-out endorsement of Petraeus’ plan to withdraw 30,000 troops by next summer.

An administration official said President Bush will “embrace the numbers on troop levels in the Petraeus report” in a speech to the nation Thursday.

Sen. Norm Coleman, R-Minn., who had not previously endorsed withdrawal deadlines, said he would like to hear the administration propose a firm timetable.

more...

http://www.cqpolitics.com/2007/09/senate_war_votes_hinge_on_gop.html