All seats in the House are up for grabs this year. But many members who voted no are in safe districts -- where voters are overwhelmingly conservative or liberal. That's partly because, over years of redistricting, many districts have become politically polarized, and members from those districts have less incentive to compromise with the other party.
"They don't face any backlash to this vote," said congressional scholar Norman J. Ornstein. "Their constituents will say, 'Right on.' "
Since at least 1990, when then-Rep. Newt Gingrich (R-Ga.) led a conservative revolt against a budget plan sponsored by fellow Republicans and then-President George H.W. Bush, bipartisan compromise has been rare in the House. Instead, Republicans and Democrats have focused on sharpening their conflicts, each hoping to push the other out of power.
"When you're counting on the minority party [to help pass a bill], that's difficult," said John Feehery, a former top Republican aide. "The minority doesn't trust the majority. They don't want to help them out."
Pleas from a president may not work either -- especially if the president's public standing has fallen to record lows. White House spokesmen said Bush called dozens of GOP members of Congress. His efforts appeared to bear little fruit. Rep. Joe L. Barton (R-Texas) said the president called him, but the lawmaker explained that he preferred to listen to his constituents.
In such a situation, even a powerful vice president such as Cheney can no longer command votes from members of the House. "Cheney lived up to his reputation as Darth Vader . . . talking about all the terrible things that were going to happen," said Rep. Christopher Shays (R-Conn.). "People weren't afraid of Darth Vader."
Nor did Republican members appear to pay much heed to their presidential nominee.
Over the weekend, aides said, McCain spoke to at least 11 House members to try and round up votes. On Monday morning, he told a rally in Ohio that his intervention had helped aid the expected deal.
Of the 11 lawmakers that the McCain campaign said the nominee talked to Saturday, seven voted for the measure, although five of those were members of the House GOP leadership. Four, including two from Arizona, did not.
The voices of angry constituents seemed to count most. "When Congress' approval rating is so low, when the president is such a lame duck, and when your constituents are calling . . . you run," Feehery said.
