United Liberty

The first procedural vote on Obama in the Senate will come tomorrow as Democrats try to win 60 votes to begin debate:

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid said Thursday that the first crucial vote on an $848 billion health care overhaul package would probably happen Saturday.

That procedural vote will decide whether to bring that bill to the Senate floor and begin debate, and its approval relies on the votes of three wavering moderate Democrats. Republicans are expected to rally all 40 of their senators to block the legislation from advancing, requiring Reid, D-Nev., to keep all 60 members of his Democratic caucus in line.

Reid has refused to say whether he had commitments from them.

Sen. Mary Landrieu (D-LA), who is not up for re-election next year, says she’s still reading the bill and hasn’t come to a decision. However, there is a $100 million bribe to win her support tucked neatly in the bill on page 432.

Sen. Ben Nelson (D-NE), who is up for re-election in 2012, will support his party on the procedural vote but is on the fence on the bill.

The only other member of the Democratic caucus really up in the air is Sen. Blanche Lincoln (D-AR), who is up for re-election next year, and is considered to be vulnerable. A new Zogby polls shows a vote in favor of ObamaCare could mean the end of her career:

In an initial match-up of Lincoln and possible Republican candidate State Senator Gilbert Baker, the incumbent, Lincoln, holds a narrow 41-39 lead. Against another possible GOP contender, State Senator Kim Hendren, Lincoln holds a more substantial 45-29 lead.

But when voters were asked how they would vote in a Lincoln-Baker race if Lincoln voted in favor of the healthcare legislation, the incumbent Democrat fell behind her possible GOP challenger 37-49. In all, 48% of likely Arkansas voters said they would be less likely to back Lincoln’s re-election if she supports the healthcare bill with 38% saying they were much less likely to support her in that event.

Obviously, you’ll want to watch the two Republican Senators from Maine, though Olympia Snowe says she isn’t going to vote for a bill with a government-run option. It should be noted that liberals are expecting Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) to drop the government-run plan from the bill to win support her.

Sen. Joe Lieberman (I-CT) has also said the he won’t support a government-run plan, but will likely vote to move forward if it is removed.

Looks like tomorrow is going to be another stressful day for taxpayers.