WASHINGTON INSIGHT

FORTUNES FADING? Congressional Democrats once thought they would occupy the political high ground in this election year. Not any longer. . . . In January, when President Bush was reeling from recession and a challenge from Patrick J. Buchanan, the Democrats felt confident that they could get their way with a middle-income tax cut and a diversion of defense savings to domestic programs. As spring begins, the political realities are far less rosy. The tax cut is dormant after being stopped by Bush’s veto and winning only lukewarm Democratic support. The “peace dividend” also seems out of reach, partly because of Democratic defections in both the Senate and House. Now Buchanan’s threat has faded, and the Democrats have their own primary dispute between former California Gov. Edmund G. (Jerry) Brown Jr. and Arkansas Gov. Bill Clinton. . . . On top of everything, public attention has switched from economic issues--the Democrats’ strong suit--to scandals over the House bank and post office and congressional perks that hurt both parties but make Democrats wince more.