This is in contrast to the seemingly disjointed and fractious Democratic party.

This week, he faces the challenge of bringing his fractious party together to pass an immigration bill.

Mr. Daschle will eventually have to produce some budget plan that unifies his fractious party and pass it though the Senate.

Since the 1992 election, the Republicans have been the more fractious party, and squabbling always makes good material.

So far, he says, that charismatic candidate - one who can appeal to voters and hold together a fractious party - has not yet emerged.

Two parties, however noisy and fractious they may be, seem simple by comparison.

But even before it came to public notice earlier this year, poor Mr Engholm was having to struggle to impose himself on a fractious party.

He quickly established himself within the PAN, challenging its professional politicians with the support of his business colleagues and unifying the fractious party.

After that, a fractious party began to turn its back on him.

Mr. Norman also benefits from a fractious party, weakened by geographic and ethnic infighting.