WASHINGTON — President Bush faces long odds in trying to make headway in this divided-government town with his latest batch of domestic initiatives — even though many appear tailored to address longtime Democratic concerns.

Democrats, now the majority party in Congress, reacted coolly to Bush's effort to regain control of the agenda with a handful of new and recycled State of the Union proposals on health care, energy, education and immigration.

Beyond fresh calls for bipartisanship from both sides, Bush faced skeptical lawmakers and a nation mired in an unpopular war, with the 2008 elections increasingly becoming a complicating factor.

In his address, he congratulated the new Democratic majority, singled out House Speaker Nancy Pelosi for praise and called for bipartisanship. "Like many before us, we can work through our differences," he said.

Many of the goals he outlined were "the kinds of things Democrats would generally support," said Stephen Wayne, a professor of government at Georgetown University.

But for Bush, it's likely to be a hard sell. Unmoved by Bush's appeal Tuesday, Democrats said the House and Senate would vote on resolutions of disapproval of the troop buildup.

Polls suggest he failed to shift public opinion earlier this month when he outlined his plan to increase troop strengths in Iraq.

Of Iraq, Bush lamented, "Every one of us wishes that this war were over and won." He urged Congress to support his new plan to add troops. "Let us find our resolve and turn events toward victory," he said.

Bush divided his 49-minute address between domestic and foreign issues, but the war was topic No. 1.

Pelosi set the tone for Democrats. She sat silently and did not applaud as Bush warned of high stakes in Iraq and said American forces must not step back before Baghdad is secure.

With Congress poised to deliver a stinging rebuke on his troop increase, he made a personal plea to lawmakers.

"I have spoken with many of you in person. I respect you and the arguments you made," Bush said. "We went into this largely united, in our assumptions and in our convictions. And whatever you voted for, you did not vote for failure.

"Our country is pursuing a new strategy in Iraq, and I ask you to give it a chance to work," Bush said. "And I ask you to support our troops in the field and those on their way."

Democrats on Tuesday sought to keep attention on Iraq.

"We go into this process with no illusions about the atmosphere in which we're operating in," said White House counselor Dan Bartlett.