Some Democratic presidential candidates responded harshly (IHT) to the news yesterday that some top Senate Democrats may strike a deal on Iraq that does not include a timetable for withdrawal.

Sen. Chris Dodd said, “I cannot and will not support any measure that does not have a firm and enforceable deadline to complete the redeployment of combat troops from Iraq.” John Edwards responded in a similar vein: “Congress must not send President Bush any funding bill without a timeline to end this war.”

On the Republican side, Sen. John McCain said in a press conference that the compromise is a signal that Democrats have “lost the momentum, otherwise they wouldn’t want to sit down with Republicans and negotiate a solution.”