"This is really a bad initiative that goes against the government's own policies," said Anne-Marie Payet, a centrist senator.

Ask Schiff, and he will name just one, Sam Nunn, the centrist former senator from Georgia who left in 1996.

If the centrist senators would join either the left or right faction, legislation would speed through the Senate.

Frequently, senators from both persuasions have to horse-trade with the centrist senators to get anything passed.

That left the media magnate with an extra supporter to find, but there were signs he would win backing from some centrist senators outside the coalition.

Earlier in the day Berlusconi, a media magnate-turned politician, rejected calls from conservative and centrist senators to get rid of the neo-fascists.

Berlusconi squeezed through after four centrist senators left the chamber rather than vote.

A18 A group of centrist senators sought consensus on health care.

To placate centrist senators concerned about the huge budget gaps in the states, the bill would provide $20 billion in aid to state and local governments.

But if he wants an accomplishment to run on, Mr. Bush may have to deal with centrist senators and their ideas of compromise.