OLYMPIA, Wash. -- Sen. Maria Cantwell, a true-blue Democrat, is trying to tamp down unrest among those on Washington state's political left who are furious with her unapologetic support for the Iraq War. In a state that has shown no affection for Republicans in more than two decades of presidential elections, Cantwell would seem to have an easy time securing a second term amid President Bush's sagging approval ratings and discontent with the GOP-controlled Congress. It would be a welcome change for the 47-year-old Washington state lawmaker, who six years ago had to wait more than a month before finding out whether she had won the country's closest Senate race. She prevailed by fewer than 2,300 votes. But Cantwell is facing fierce opposition from anti-war activists who ordinarily would back her. Chants of "No More War" rang out before her speech at last month's state party convention, protesters unfurled a banner reading, "Maria Can't Say No to War" at another event, and demonstrators squatted in her Seattle office. Even an appearance with popular Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., in heavily Democratic Seattle elicited boos for Cantwell. "We're frustrated," said Joe Colgan, 64, a retired lineman from Kent, Wash., whose son, Army 2nd Lt. Benjamin Colgan, was killed in Iraq. "With all the information that is out now that shows the war was a terrible mistake, she will not admit that her vote was wrong. That's a fairly serious flaw."
Cantwell voted in 2002 for the resolution authorizing Bush to use force to topple the Baghdad regime of Saddam Hussein, and she rejects suggestions that she made a mistake. She has supported the war but has criticized Bush's handling of it, arguing that Congress must hold the administration accountable and "make sure that 2006 is a year of significant transition in Iraq." Cantwell recently joined a majority of Democrats in opposing a deadline for U.S. troops to be out of Iraq but voted for a more moderate resolution for forces to start withdrawing.