NRCC Goes After Centrists Dems For Withdrawal Vote

Several freshman Democrats representing districts that President Bush carried in 2004 voted for a resolution to begin a phased withdrawal of U.S. troops from Iraq in the next 90 days.

The willingness for swing-district Democrats to support an expedited withdrawal illustrates how much public opinion has shifted over the war in Iraq over the past year.

Reps. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), John Hall (D-N.Y.), Michael Arcuri (D-N.Y.), Steve Kagen (D-Wis.), Tim Walz (D-Minn.) and Carol Shea-Porter (D-N.H.) all voted for the measure. 

The vote gave the National Republican Campaign Committee ammunition to attack them – and nine other Democrats who voted for the resolution, which was introduced by Rep. Jim McGovern (D-Mass.) and would require most combat forces out of Iraq within nine months.