THE SENATE'S TOUGH LOTT

(2 of 2)

In his farewell, Dole urged his successor to practice the art of compromise. Heeding the advice, Lott held two meetings with Democratic leader Tom Daschle, who, in turn, refrained from attacking Lott as a Gingrich clone. But some colleagues warn that in a campaign season, Lott's pugnacious side would rather play up partisan differences than get a bill passed. Already fading are prospects for a modest bill to make medical insurance portable from job to job. For now Lott is showing little inclination to modify a conservative-backed amendment to establish so-called medical savings accounts, an addition Democrats call a "poison pill." With cooperation like that, the cease-fire won't last long.

--By James Carney/Washington