Republicans championed political action committees as a conduit for business contributions, to counter labor union contributions to Democrats.

Republicans championed legislation to stop the outrageous assault on family farms.

Republicans, including Mr. Bush, have championed vouchers, but Democrats have resisted the notion, calling it an abandonment of public schools.

For instance, Mr. Watts noted, Republicans have long championed "family values," but the execution has left the party looking hardhearted at times.

Republicans have long championed shrinking big government.

Republicans have championed such accounts as a way to maximize consumer choice and establish a bulwark against Government regulation of the health care market.

It is unusual, though not unheard of, for the Republicans to champion this kind of pork-barrel project in a Democratic district.

Republicans have traditionally championed respect for the delicate balance the founders created.

As a result, many reformers are considering bigger changes, like the charter schools and voucher plans that New York's Republicans have been championing.

But Republicans have not championed specific budget cuts to reach Mr. Clements's bottom-line figure.