Quietly though, the White House may be preparing the ground for a shift. The cue could be the upcoming recommendations from the bipartisan Iraq Study Group headed by the former secretary of state James Baker. But a Democrat capture of the House and/or Senate might accelerate that process. He will also have to co-operate on the domestic front, if Congress is to take action on issues like immigration, education and the economy.
One certainty is that Democratic controlled committees would rigorously oversee and investigate the administration a constitutional duty of Congress largely neglected by the previous Republican majority in the House.
But Nancy Pelosi, the Democratic leader in the House who would become Speaker if the Democrats win, has ruled out moves to impeach Mr Bush.
