Senator Chafee was now leading a bipartisan band of about 20 senators that called itself the "mainstream coalition."

The efforts of the bipartisan group, the self-styled "mainstream coalition," are widely regarded as the best hope that the Senate has for passing a national health insurance bill.

The Convergences were also billed as a counterweight to more mainstream coalitions and trade unions who radicals claimed dominated protests.

With their backing, Mr. Chafee's "mainstream coalition," whose fluctuating membership reached a high of 16 senators today, could command a Senate majority for its proposal.

Some of the senators at today's meeting of the "mainstream coalition," especially its Republicans, want to draft an entirely new bill rather than merely a package of amendments.

All are occasional mavericks, and four are members of the self-styled "mainstream coalition," whose health proposal lies at the center of the withering hopes for legislation.

Those Democrats had a different purpose: trying to find out how flexible the group calling itself the "mainstream coalition" was prepared to be in its pursuit of votes.

Mr. Dole's opposition has been a given for almost all members of the self-styled "mainstream coalition."

Mr. Mitchell has come to near-complete agreement with the "mainstream coalition" on a fine bill that would provide market-driven health care reform.

That's where Mr. Chafee, the Rhode Island Republican, and the dozen-plus members of his self-styled "mainstream coalition" have been trying to find a compromise.