Mr. Bush's stand is also at odds with the dominant position of the Congressional wing of the Republican Party.

It is, in many ways, one last chance for political vindication - of his career, of the Congressional wing of the party, of a set of beliefs.

The Congressional wing of the party lost its reformist zeal years ago and has been trying to win elections based on pork and incumbency.

Some Republicans say the Congressional wing of the party is likely to follow a different strategy from that of the White House.

Even before the current détente, it wasn't so much that the parties were captured as that their Congressional wings reflected increasingly distinct demographics.

Still, no one from the party's Congressional wing was publicly complaining.

Among Democrats, there is a general hunger for more vocal and aggressive leaders and a quiet disappointment in the Congressional wing of the party.

Mr. Bush's approval ratings may not have broken the Congressional wing of the party, but they seem to have discouraged potential challengers.

Several Republicans with an eye to the Presidential race next year said the last thing they wanted were Republicans running against the party's Congressional wing.

Meantime the Congressional wing of his party, which seemed invulnerable after the 1994 elections, has lost its momentum and cachet.