A conspiracy theory that the submarine scare was manufactured to strengthen the navy's case for greater finance was widely discussed on social media.
Congress in recent months has increased the agency's budget, and the Obama administration has asked for still greater financing.
At every campaign stop, Mr. Gandhi, 38, fourth-generation scion of the country's premier political dynasty, rattles off antipoverty programs begun by the Congress-led coalition government: a law that promises 100 days of employment to the poor, greater financing for schools, major debt forgiveness for farmers.
This means significantly greater financing for ground force modernization programs like the Army's Future Combat Systems and for more robust air and naval littoral combat capabilities.
It would commit the state to greater financing for early childhood programs, reduction of class size, teacher training and repair and maintenance of schools.
Mr. Torricelli said Democrats would also seek greater financing for mass transit projects, another regional issue that tended to be ignored by Republican leaders of Congress.
Pheu Thai won the July 3 election thanks to strong support from the north and northeastern parts of the country, where Mr. Thaksin's policies — universal health care, a crackdown on drugs and greater financing for local governments — proved very popular.
Washington has led the effort to combat AIDS and will need to lead the search for additional donor contributions, greater financing by AIDS-afflicted nations that can afford it, and more cost-effective approaches to prevention and treatment.
The deal with Mr. Wilkie, a freshman representative, includes a number of promises on domestic issues, including greater financing for public hospitals and a pledge to put daily transaction limits on Australia's ubiquitous poker machines.
Mr. Holder has elsewhere called for social changes with civil rights overtones, like the passage of a federal hate-crimes law, the elimination of the sentencing disparity between crack and powder cocaine and greater financing for indigent defense.
