"Poverty is the unifying issue in the district," he said.

First, that agenda has been kept simple, focused on the most unifying issue to Republicans - tax cuts and their cousins, budget resolutions.

There is also no unifying issue comparable to, say, the Vietnam War.

But it has the potential to be an effective political tool especially if it is focused on a unifying issue, even a small issue.

The official line is that the party will move quickly and eagerly to more unifying issues, such as health care.

Listing several other examples, he concluded, "To confront those questions and those crises in people's lives is a unifying issue."

To confront those questions and those crises in people's lives is a unifying issue.

"And we are convinced the new level of concern about terrorism in Europe could be a unifying rather than a wedge issue."

"A political party should focus on unifying issues," he said.

But whatever the style of the speaker, the same determination to concentrate on unifying issues was there.