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War-funding vote puts Dem candidates in a bind

By Dana Bash
CNN congressional correspondent

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WASHINGTON (CNN) -- As the Senate prepares to vote on a measure that would cut off funding for the war in Iraq, Democrats running for president are making a hard decision -- whether to vote for an amendment that would cut off funding for the war.

Three of the four senators in the race say they will vote in favor of the measure, one of two war-related amendments that Majority Leader Harry Reid has attached to an unrelated water resources development bill.

Another amendment, sponsored by Reid and Sen. Carl Levin, D-Michigan, includes troop withdrawal timelines but also a provision that would allow the president to waive the timelines.

Each amendment needs 60 votes to become part of the water bill.

Only Sen. Joe Biden, D-Delaware, has not decided how he will vote, aides told CNN.

But Sens. Hillary Clinton, D-New York, Barack Obama, D-Illinois, and Chris Dodd, D-Connecticut, all say they will vote in favor of the amendment, sponsored by Reid and Sen. Russ Feingold, D-Wisconsin.

All the Democratic candidates have been trying to appeal to the powerful anti-war Democratic base with various proposals, such as repealing authorization for the war.

Obama announced Tuesday his intention to vote in favor of both amendments, "not because I believe either is the best answer, but because I want to send a strong statement to the Iraqi government, the president and my Republican colleagues that it's long past time to change course."

Dodd is taking the unusual step of airing television ads beginning Tuesday in Iowa and New Hampshire, pressuring his colleagues to vote "yes" to cut off funds.

And Clinton spokesman Philippe Reines told CNN the senator will also vote in favor of both measures "to send the president a clear message that it is time to change course, redeploy our troops out of Iraq, and end this war as soon as possible."

Votes on the amendments are expected Wednesday.

Separate from the amendments to the water bill, the Senate must still pass a supplemental appropriations bill funding the war, and that bill would go to the House-Senate conference committee.

Last week, the House of Representatives passed a bill that would fund some of the war now and review the status of the conflict before deciding whether to allocate more money in July. President Bush swiftly threatened to veto the bill if it passes both chambers.

Bush vetoed the first supplemental bill that passed both chambers because it contained timelines for troop withdrawal.

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