"Large manufacturers need to remind the Republican leadership that in the past, Republican positions and policies have been extremely damaging to big business," he said in an interview.

It was the kind of thing that has helped the Administration shed its early reputation for incompetence, of a piece with the President's skill in defusing Republican issues by adopting, in modified form, Republican positions.

Few Hispanic voters are registered Republicans, he said, but more and more they are moving closer to Republican positions.

But even if the wait is longer, party leaders acknowledge that they have to do a better job of raising money, finding candidates and convincing voters that Republican positions are more in tune with their moderate views than the Democrats'.

He has also sought to remind constituents of his accomplishments over the last two years, while seeking to link Mr. Simmons to Republican positions on health care, Social Security and education.

Instead, Mr. Dole has found himself mired in legislative battles with Senate Democrats over issues like raising the minimum wage, and he has been linked with unpopular Republican positions in the House.

No. 2, you have to do outreach to women between 18 and 35 who do not understand the Republican "official" position on abortion and reproductive rights.

What if the Democrats took a more philosophical approach to their opposition to Republican positions?

Contrasts Between the Parties Paul G. Kirk Jr., chairman of the Democratic National Committee, noted that some critics had labeled Democrats "the me-too party," suggesting that since 1984 Democrats had tried to move closer to Republican positions on many issues.