For their part, Democrats labor relentlessly to depict themselves as proponents of reform and Republicans as greedy, dedicated opponents.
Republicans counter that the legislation is a threat to the Constitution's right of free speech.
That same provision presumably would cripple organized labor's political apparatus - thus silencing the organization that almost cost the Republicans control of the House in the 1996 elections. Democrats have resorted to a filibuster to block the union amendment, just as Lott and Republicans mounted a filibuster to block a straightforward vote on the underlying campaign finance legislation. The deadlock persisted Wednesday in the Senate, as lawmakers voted 52-47, eight short of the 60 needed, against an attempt to bring the bill to a final vote. Additional test votes are scheduled for Thursday. The maneuvering comes at a time when polling shows little clamor from the public for changes in the current system.