Democrats, meanwhile, are employing a dual strategy, positioning themselves as helping unemployed Americans while accommodating the deficit-weary in their own ranks by paring back spending packages.

"What Bunning did resonated with a lot of people who were concerned about the deficit," said Robert Bixby, executive director of the Concord Coalition, a budget watchdog group.

"He said, 'Look, this is what making hard choices is all about.' That makes sense to a lot of people. What doesn't make sense to me is cutting off unemployment benefits when you have 10% unemployment. I don't think it's drawing the line in the sand in the right place."