At that point, the administration might be able to peel off some Democrats, many of whom back the idea of a limited missile defense system and most of whom support continued research and development. Nearly 100 Democratic experts on defense and foreign policy have formed a group called Americans for Forward Engagement. They have made nuclear weapons issues, including missile defense, their first priority and have been advising members of Congress. One senator said he wanted to avoid leaving himself open to a 30-second campaign attack ad that would say he voted to leave San Francisco exposed to nuclear annihilation. But most Democrats see relatively little danger in criticizing Bush's plan at this point.
More people are worried about gasoline prices.
More people in public housing are worried about drug crime. Skelton, with two military bases in his district, is more hawkish than Frank but still is skeptical of Bush's pledge to build a worldwide missile shield, possibly including weapons based on land, at sea and in space. To deploy something that doesn't work is not the right thing for the American people. A January Washington Post-ABC News opinion poll of 1,513 adults supports Frank's and Skelton's assessment of the electorate. But when various qualifications were added to the question, support plummeted.