[ILUG] Debian dpkg --configure fails

[Michael Thompson]

Hi,
   I have tried to install a package, cacti, on a debian server and I
was asked a number of questions, i.e. the password for the root mysql
user. I typed in the wrong password and the package configuration
failed, fair enough except now if I type dpkg --reconfigure cacti it
doesn't ask me for the password anymore it just fails

Setting up cacti (0.6.7-2.1) ...
ERROR 1045: Access denied for user: 'root at localhost' (Using password: YES)
ERROR 1045: Access denied for user: 'root at localhost' (Using password: YES)
dpkg: error processing cacti (--configure):
 subprocess post-installation script returned error exit status 1
Errors were encountered while processing:
 cacti


How do I re-run the configure step?

Thanks, Michael

PS Normally a gentoo user but could switch to debian after an emerge
system removed module-init-tools leaving me unable to load the module
for my ethernet card :(