Democrats in Congress See Voter Support

Democratic leaders in Congress, clearly disappointed by George Bush’s victory, insisted Wednesday that the congressional election returns show the American voters want their party to be an “equal partner” with Bush in governing the nation.

With a slightly increased majority in the 101st Congress, Democrats are expected to strongly resist many of the new initiatives of the Bush Administration--depriving Bush of the full benefits of the so-called honeymoon that presidents often enjoy with Congress.

Nor does it appear that Bush will have the complete loyalty of the Republican minority. Senate Minority Leader Bob Dole (R-Kan.), who lost to Bush in the race for the GOP presidential nomination, has suggested that the party’s standard-bearer allowed the Democrats to sweep congressional elections by doing too little to help Republican candidates.

But House Speaker Jim Wright (D-Tex.) emphasized in an interview that Bush can avoid a partisan stalemate with Congress if he abandons the Clint Eastwood-style “make my day” rhetoric that he used in discussing taxes during his campaign.

‘Doesn’t Portend Conflict’

“It doesn’t necessarily portend conflict and confrontation,” Wright cautioned. “We want to make it easy for him to do what has to be done. We will try very hard to work with the President, if there is any way to do that without compromising our deeply held principles.”

In his first news conference as President-elect, Bush indicated he was optimistic that his experience as a former member of Congress would help him win the support of the Democratic Congress. But he--like Wright--expressed unwillingness to compromise any of his own beliefs.

“I have my principles,” Bush declared. “The American people in voting for me, voted for certain things. Congress understands that and I understand the Congress . . . And so I don’t think . . . they’ll do everything my way. But I will try very hard because I start with great respect for the institution in which I served.”

As for Dole, Bush pledged to hold a meeting soon with his old rival. “He is an effective Republican leader, and I will work with him,” the President-elect said.

Many Embittered Democrats

Nevertheless, Bush will be forced to contend with many embittered Democrats when he sets out to work with Congress. Wright acknowledged that some members of his party are saying, “we’ll show him” because of the disappointment over losing the presidency.

Democrats were particularly angered by Bush’s declaration that he would oppose any new taxes in an effort to reduce the federal budget deficit. As a result, the Democrats, most of whom believe that some new revenues will be necessary, are ready to dump the problem entirely into Bush’s lap for now and wait to receive his deficit-reduction proposal.

“If he thinks the Democrats are going to lead him into the land of new taxes, he’s dead wrong,” said Sen. J. Bennett Johnston (D-La.), a leading candidate to be the next Senate majority leader, replacing Sen. Robert C. Byrd (D-W.Va.).

In the eyes of the Democratic leaders in Congress, Bush’s victory on Tuesday was based almost entirely on a negative campaign against Democrat Michael S. Dukakis, and they believe that will deprive him of a positive mandate as he seeks to govern.

Contrast With 1980

“This is clearly a non-mandate election because it’s been devoid of substance and devoid of a personal mandate for Bush,” Johnston said. “This will not be at all like Ronald Reagan’s election in 1980 where he was promising a revolution in government, and we had no choice but to get on board with him.”

In addition, Democrats see their own electoral victories in congressional races as evidence that the voters favor Democratic programs, despite the defeat of Dukakis.

In the Senate races, Democrats won four seats previously held by Republicans in Connecticut, Nebraska, Nevada and Virginia--all states that Bush won. At the same time, Republicans captured two seats previously held by Democrats in Mississippi and Montana.

Dole said GOP Senate candidates “could have used a little help from the vice president in some of the states,” particularly in Nevada, which Bush only “flew over a couple of times.”

Count Continues in Florida

But the extent of the Democratic gain will not be known until all the ballots are counted in Florida, where Republican Rep. Connie Mack and Democratic Rep. Buddy MacKay were locked in a neck-and-neck battle to succeed Sen. Lawton Chiles, a Democrat. If MacKay wins, the Democrats would have a 56-44 majority, or a gain of two seats.

Four Senate incumbents--Republicans Lowell P. Weicker Jr. of Connecticut, Chic Hecht of Nevada and David Karnes of Nebraska, and Democrat John Melcher of Montana--were defeated. The new faces next year will include include two young former Democratic governors who have received a lot of news media attention in recent years, Charles S. Robb of Virginia and Bob Kerrey of Nebraska.

In the House, the Democrats’ five-seat gain was their best showing in a presidential year since they picked up 37 seats in the Lyndon B. Johnson landslide victory of 1964. In the 101st Congress, there will be 262 Democrats and 173 Republicans in the House.

While Rep. Fernand J. St Germain (D-R.I.), chairman of the House Banking Committee, was defeated--the first loss by a committee chairman in eight years--he was the only casualty among Democratic incumbents.

Staff writer William J. Eaton contributed to this story.