To many of his friends, his fierce partisanship then was a departure; in Montana, bipartisanship was a hallmark of his tenure.

He was known in political circles for his blunt assessments, his fierce partisanship and his love of the game.

Her family's fierce partisanship is legendary.

In a time of fierce partisanship, he calls all citizens to common goals.

The bills were passed by the Democratic-led Assembly in August as its members rushed to adjourn a legislative session marked by fierce partisanship.

"The fierce partisanship goes down into the policy levels, where there's no negotiation, no discussion, no common ground," said Roger Salazar, a Democratic consultant here.

They said the biggest change, at least initially, would be to take the sting out of the fierce partisanship that developed under Mr. Gingrich.

Nor does he take any responsibility for the fierce partisanship and political divisiveness that took root in his administration.

The much more moderate Senate with its decorus air has done nothing to sap either Mr. Lott's combativeness or his fierce partisanship.

His tenure was marked with fierce partisanship, facing opposition from the press and the Democratic-controlled territorial legislature.