Sunday, July 15, 2007; A06

On Thursday morning, members of the House Democratic whip team, including Jan Schakowsky of Illinois, pored over a list of conservative Democrats who were potential opponents of an Iraq withdrawal proposal scheduled for a vote that afternoon.

One sign that the number wouldn't be high: Rep. Lincoln Davis (Tenn.), an influential "Blue Dog," announced to cheering colleagues that he would support the bill. Unlike earlier versions Davis had opposed, this one didn't involve troop funding.

As the team moved down the list, the whips quickly determined that Democratic foes amounted to a handful. And sure enough, the bill passed 223 to 210, with just 10 Democrats opposing it.

Schakowsky was a longtime opponent of the war who, after she joined the House leadership, had to juggle her fervor with the need to find compromise measures that would attract enough votes. But last week, the tide had clearly turned

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