In Connecticut , Representative Christopher Shays , a Republican who is one of the Democrats ' top targets this year in the midterm elections , has distanced himself from the White House even as he has emphasized his support for the war , saying the administration has made '' huge mistakes '' by allowing looting , disbanding the Iraqi army and failing to have enough troops on the ground Senator Mike DeWine , an Ohio Republican who is also facing a tough re-election challenge , said that '' people are not optimistic about what they see . ''