On Tuesday, Mr. Bush extended invitations to some of the Democratic moderates most likely to bolt their party on the issues he cares most about.

Indeed, participants at the meeting were as critical of Mr. Clinton and Democratic moderates as of Mr. Gingrich and the "Contract With America."

The ranks of Democratic moderates in both congressional chambers are small now, and their centrism is based more on a demeanor and a skeptical brow than a voting record.

Leaders of the Democratic minority as well as alarmed Republican moderates should stand against this distraction and give the nation what it needs, a real debate over an uncluttered law.

Should he bless a budget deal between Republican and Democratic moderates, even if it risks a rupture with the flame-throwing freshman Republicans in the House?

He organized state Democrats to resist the Know Nothing party, but with their defeat his radical views descended in the estimation of Democratic moderates.

The biggest question, then, might be whether liberals in Mr. Obama's own party would press him to go even further than he and Democratic moderates wanted to go.

The Democratic moderates believe their concern is a matter of great import.

Mr. Benson worries that Democratic moderates will be vulnerable to accusations that they were ineffectual bystanders who could not make their voices heard.

That means Mr. Bush must draw votes from Democratic moderates in the House.