Spend more and pass this bill, the Democrats said, or force the government to close its doors.

They said Democrats forced Mr. Dole to pull back the welfare bill.

But Democrats never united behind a plan of their own and could not force a confrontation.

The Democrats refused to agree to several routine bills and forced the House to take extra time on procedural matters.

"The Democrats are forever forcing us to do what they want," he is reported to have said.

Had a point arisen when no one was prepared to speak, a Democrat could have forced a vote, but that never happened.

"If we let Democrats force us into a debate on the surge or the current situation in Iraq, we lose," they wrote in a letter.

Democrats will also force a veto on the family leave bill, and perhaps one or two more measures.

Given the unpredictability of politics in an election year, however, the Democrats will probably force the issue to the forefront of the political agenda.

In the House, Democrats forced five procedural votes in failed efforts to bring the measure up.