Investigating Cheney

The narrowly defeated attempt in the House June 28 to block funds for Vice President Dick Cheney's home upkeep and other expenses was voted against by two of the chamber's most powerful Democrats: Rep. David Obey, chairman of the House Appropriations Committee, and Rep. John Murtha, an Appropriations subcommittee chairman and an influential adviser of Speaker Nancy Pelosi.

That surprised House Democrats who considered the proposal a party matter because it was introduced by Rep. Rahm Emanuel, House Democratic Caucus chairman. The amendment to the Financial Services appropriations bill followed Cheney's continuing resistance to congressional efforts to extract information from him. It failed, 217 to 209, with 24 Democrats opposing it.

Obey and Murtha did not explain their votes. But as Appropriations "Cardinals," they generally oppose floor amendments to spending bills. While most of the other Democrats voting no were moderates, they also included left-wing Rep. Jim McDermott. His spokesman told this column McDermott "had questions about the impact" of the proposal. McDermott followed his vote with a floor speech calling for Cheney's impeachment.

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Sen. Elizabeth Dole of North Carolina, viewed as one of the most vulnerable incumbent Republican senators seeking re-election in 2008, has made a comeback with successful fund-raising and a boost in approval ratings.

Dole's private polls put her favorability level at 59 percent, compared with President Bush's 42 percent. Republican insiders attribute that mostly to her opposing the immigration bill backed by Bush. Thanks to effective second quarter fund-raising (at a level not yet announced), Dole is sitting on an estimated $2 million. She previously had been criticized as an ineffective first-term senator, mainly because of her national chairmanship of the failed 2006 Senate campaign.

Gov. Michael Easley, the strongest potential Democratic challenger so far, has resisted pleas that he run. Dole's war chest may discourage lesser-known Democrats. But State Rep. Grier Martin, an Iraq war veteran, has family money for a possible candidacy.