"Who was more effective at galvanizing the opposition, Lou Dobbs, James Sensenbrenner, or Samuel Huntinton?"
None of the above, that honor goes to KarLaRazaRove.
It was the felony language in the House bill that shifted public opinion againt the hardliners. That is why Hastert and Frist went on national tv and apologized, saying the felony language would be removed.