"We'll work in concert with the administration, Republicans and Democrats, hopefully with a recognition that this ought to be done in the international arena and I am confident that that's where it will be done," Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle said after a meeting at the White House on Iraq Wednesday.

Daschle relinquished his reservations on Iraq Tuesday and asked the White House "to come up with a resolution on Iraq (that) we can bring for Senate vote sometime reasonably soon."

Standing at Daschle's side in front of the White House was Representative Dick Gephardt of Missouri, leader of the Democratic minority in the House.

"We've got to be together in the United States supporting the diplomatic and military, if necessary, to solve this problem," Gephardt said.

The Democrats' sudden about-face on Iraq policy comes at a crucial time. On November 5, elections will determine the fate of 435 seats in the House of Representatives, controlled by a five-vote Republican majority, and one-third of the 100-seat Senate where the Democrats hold sway by one seat.

"I expressed the concern weeks ago that the closer we get to the election the more likely this whole grave matter (of Iraq) could be politicized," Daschle said, accusing Bush of using the situation in Iraq as a campaign tool.

The senator from South Dakota noted that Bush's statement Friday, that American voters had the right to know the position of their candidates on Iraq, was "unfortunate."

Fighting Bush on a subject most Americans agree upon might have threatened Democratic candidates' chances in many close races.

A CNN/USA Today/Gallup survey showed Wednesday that 93 percent of respondents believed the United Nations should pass a resolution imposing a deadline on Iraq to submit to weapons inspections or face grave consequences.

"I think we have to assume the White House strategy is to push a confrontation (on Iraq) with Congress before the election," Senator Richard Durbin, a Democrat from Illinois, said Tuesday.

"They want to push a political decision before the election and hope that will benefit the Republicans and hurt the Democrats," Durbin said.

Carroll Doherty, an analyst at the Pew Research Center here, said: "The Democrats seem to face a dilemma ... They cannot get a platform for their issues because of the focus on the (possible) war in Iraq."

"It's a very difficult position for the Democrats. They are facing a popular president and a situation where the agenda is out of their control," she said. The Democrats had no other choice but to accept a quick vote on a resolution supporting Bush on Iraq, Doherty said, to clear the air before the elections so they can highlight other subjects more detrimental to Republicans such as financial scandals, and economic problems.

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