Two Republican incumbents targeted by the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee underscored this point in interviews Wednesday, even as Democrats insist that Republicans are sticking with Bush and his Iraq policy at their peril.

“I think what you’re going to see is continued improvement in Iraq and the war on terror generally, to the extent that people taking a very negative and critical attitude right now will probably regret that they were that far out in criticism of our effort, and perhaps will wish that they had been a little bit more supportive,” said Sen. Jon Kyl (R-Ariz.), who is facing Democratic businessman and DSCC favorite Jim Pederson next year.

“I have let [Bush] know that he would be welcome any time,” Kyl said. “As many times as he wants to come to Arizona, I am happy to have him there with us.”

Today, Bush’s policy and the Republican political calculus to stand firmly behind it face a crucial test, as Iraqis journey to the polls to elect a permanent government. Even with the completion of previous Iraqi elections since the United States invaded and handed over sovereignty in June 2003, Americans remain uneasy about the war, at least according to the latest public opinion polls.

But Republican chances of turning around public opinion and ensuring the war is an electoral strength next year — or at least not an albatross — have been aided by the president’s mid-November decision to begin a public relations offensive, and the ensuing disunity of the Democratic response.

The NRSC, taking its cue from the White House, is already on the attack, and prepared to center its midterm election strategy around the president’s leadership on Iraq, national security and what Republicans call the global war on terrorism.

NRSC officials say strategy will vary depending on the specific race, but say that generally speaking, they will not shy away from associating — by name — with Bush and his policies, explaining they are happy to refight the 2004 presidential election, which Republicans believe was a duel over foreign policy, Iraq and terrorism that was clearly won by the GOP, and is eminently winnable again.

Another Republican that Democrats have high hopes of ousting next year — Sen. Jim Talent (R-Mo.) — confirmed this, saying he too has no qualms about campaigning either on Iraq or on the president’s coattails.

“I think Missourians want us to win in Iraq ... I don’t think they want us to quit,” said Talent, who is locked in a tight race against state Auditor Claire McCaskill (D), a key DSCC recruit. “And so, anybody who has been strongly for victory in Iraq and has shown a willingness to push for means of accomplishing that regardless of the politics of it, [Missourians will] probably like.”

Democrats believe the Republicans’ historic electoral advantage on the issue of national security will diminish next year, in large part because the American people are unhappy with Bush and his handling of Iraq, as well as with Capitol Hill Republicans who have been supporting his agenda.

“Sixty-five percent of Americans say we’re headed in the wrong direction in Iraq, so [Republicans] can create whatever bubble they want to live in,” said DSCC Chairman Charles Schumer (N.Y.) on Wednesday. “The bottom line is, until the president comes up with some vision for Iraq, some plan for Iraq that satisfies the American people that there’s light at the end of the tunnel, it’s not going to be a help to [Republicans] anywhere in the country.”

Heading into 2006, and throughout the coming year, if necessary, the White House plans to continue aggressively making the case for prosecuting the Iraq war while simultaneously pushing back against Democratic criticism of Bush.

Republicans hope that today’s vote for a permanent Iraqi government ushers in such a change on the ground that the president’s vigorous defense of his policy is no longer necessary. But in lieu of that, expect the White House, in conjunction with key Republicans on Capitol Hill, to lead a nonstop public relations campaign.

“The White House will be aggressive in making sure the good news about Iraq is out there, and in making sure Democrats are held accountable for the statements they make,” said one Republican official familiar with White House thinking.

NRSC officials acknowledge the president’s poll numbers have been somewhat of a drag on their candidates, but say Republicans on Capitol Hill have a vital role to play in helping Bush push the Iraq message if his ratings are to improve and the Iraq war as an issue is to be a political strength for them next year.

Because Republicans generally believe that progress is being made in Iraq, and because GOP Senators generally have not changed their view that it was right to invade Iraq and it remains right to stay until a democratic Iraq is militarily self-sufficient, they feel they have no choice but to vigorously defend that position.

Republicans believe this task has been made easier by recent calls from leading Democrats for immediate withdrawal, not to mention a statement by Sen. John Kerry (D-Mass.) that U.S. soldiers are terrorizing Iraqi families and another by Democratic National Committee Chairman Howard Dean that the Iraq war is unwinnable.

“I think it’s incumbent upon the Republican leadership to support the president in terms of getting the message out,” NRSC Communications Director Brian Nick said. “If it’s not clear that the Republican leadership stands with the president, then that’s a problem for us.”

Voters still trust Republicans more on national security than Democrats, GOP strategists contend, even if that advantage is not as pronounced as it was last year or in 2002, when Republicans used the fight over homeland security to oust Vietnam veteran Max Cleland (D-Ga.) and other Democratic Senators to take control of the Senate.

“Republicans don’t just talk Iraq, they talk national security/war on terror. I don’t think Democrats have learned that lesson,” one Republican strategist said. “Democrats shouldn’t think they’re going to regain the majority on the Iraq issue; they won’t because they don’t have an alternative.”

Republicans in the House, citing the local nature of most House races, contend Iraq is unlikely to figure prominently in their effort to retain control of the chamber, regardless of whether the war is perceived as going well. But that hasn’t stopped the National Republican Congressional Committee from highlighting disunity among Democrats over Iraq war policy — particularly whether the United States should pull troops out immediately.

The NRCC also continues to slam Democrats over remarks made by high-profile party leaders, but the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee sees that as losing strategy for House Republicans.

“My fervent hope is that Republicans believe their own spin and whistle right past their political graveyard on this,” DCCC Communications Director Bill Burton said. “Are politics local? Sure. But locally, voters in districts like [Reps.] Chris Shays’ (R-Conn.) and Jim Gerlach’s (R-Pa.) think they are doing an awful job because they have done nothing but rubber-stamp President Bush’s failed policies in Iraq.”

Beginning with a Nov. 11 Veterans Day speech, Bush has forcefully sought to rebut Democratic charges that he lied about intelligence in the run-up to the war in order to convince Congress to authorize force, while simultaneously explaining the merits of his decision to invade and remain there until “victory” has been achieved. The disjointed Democratic response, has left the administration and Capitol Hill Republicans feeling as though they have the upper hand.

“Democrats are not speaking with one voice, so it makes it problematic for them to cut through to the public,” the Republican strategist said.