Top 2008 Republicans back Bush on war - for now

By John Whitesides, Political Correspondent

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The top Republican White House candidates in 2008 are standing firm against quick troop withdrawals from Iraq -- while trying to distance themselves from an increasingly unpopular President George W. Bush any other way they can.

Recent calls for a change in Iraq strategy by senior Republican Sens. Richard Lugar of Indiana and George Voinovich of Ohio reignited congressional debate on the war and could embolden more Republicans to question Bush's approach.

But the party's leading presidential contenders back Bush's strategy of sending more U.S. troops to Iraq and have resisted Democratic calls for troop withdrawal timelines.

At the same time, they have criticized Bush's war management without directly attacking him. With the exception of Arizona Sen. John McCain, they also have condemned a Senate immigration bill backed by Bush.

Republican consultant Dan Schnur said the candidates were walking the same fine line faced by Democrats during the 1998 scandal over then President Bill Clinton's relationship with a White House intern.

"Watching Republicans talk about Iraq is like watching Democrats talk about Monica Lewinsky. They concede the obvious but still defend the person," said Schnur, a former McCain aide who is unaffiliated in this campaign.

"Everyone agreed Clinton's conduct was horrible and everyone agrees this war has not been managed well," he said. "It gives the Republican candidates a chance to distance themselves from his policy without being negative about the man."

Bush's approval rating has hit new lows in national opinion polls, which also show his support dipping but still strong among Republican voters who will decide the party's nominee in the November 2008 election.