Delegates suggested that the holidays might force a conclusion of the talks by Sunday, but there was no formal decision to end the discussions by then.
Several council delegates suggested that Russia's membership in the organization be suspended because of its punishing attacks on areas where civilians reside.
But in the light of such statements and general unease in the Islamic world over America's presence in Iraq, the final communiqué of the meeting read far more mildly than expected, some delegates suggested.
Indeed, interviews with dozens of delegates suggested that confidence in Mr. Kerry's prospects for November was creating a display of discipline that was highly unusual for this famously fractious party.
The Republicans appear far more united than their counterparts did, suffering from less ambivalence about the McCain-Palin ticket than the Democratic delegates suggested with their emotional rifts in the wake of the primary campaign between Mr. Obama and Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton.
But the left's Ken Livingstone commented: 'This will be a giant waste of time.' The instant reaction of mainstream trade union leaders like John Edmonds and Bill Morris and of left-leaning MPs and delegates suggested Mr Blair will win.
Discussion of the "peace plan," as it had been called, might be extended for another year, some delegates suggested, and the commission will discuss other matters for a few days more.
The finding in The Times/CBS poll, as well as in follow-up interviews conducted today with delegates, suggested one of the tasks Mr. Bush faces this week: Convincing independents and moderate Democrats, in particular, that his is the face of the Republican Party, rather than of the delegates who will be celebrating his nomination.
As a compromise, one of the delegates suggested the group nominate Ross.
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell mentioned Hillary 24 times and Donald Trump only 5. The delegates chanted, "lock her up" -- some delegates suggested that Hillary be executed for treason.
