In the end, a single sentence - a line directly attacking Congress - was excised, they added.

Mr. Bush went on to attack Congress en masse, criticism that would probably have offended Mr. Dole.

And they worry that Mr. Bush will be able to successfully attack Congress, since he never made any cozy deals with them.

But in fact Mr. Gingrich's political action committee, Gopac, trained Republican candidates last year to attack Congress.

He describes himself as an innocent man duped by the terrorists, never active in politics and unaware of the plot to attack Congress.

Attacking Congress is a sport as old as American democracy.

To the Editor: For generations, the Republican Party has attacked Congress as big spenders and budget breakers.

Oliver L. North attacked Congress before a cheering crowd of supporters Saturday, saying too many members of Congress interfere in foreign affairs.

"If he wants to attack Congress, he ought to tell us in advance he's going after all of us," said an obviously annoyed Mr. Dole.

They have generally preferred to attack Congress rather than Mr. Edwards directly, in part to avoid building up a sympathy vote for the incumbent.