Sign of Hope? Harry Reid Postpones Debt Vote

It's now scheduled for Sunday afternoon as talks intensify
By John Johnson,  Newser Staff
Posted Jul 30, 2011 9:37 PM CDT
Harry Reid Postpones Debt Vote
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid speaks during a news conference Saturday.   (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

It's either a sign that a last-minute deal is truly in sight or one last tease: Harry Reid has postponed a 1am procedural vote on his plan to raise the debt ceiling until tomorrow afternoon, reports the Hill. Reid says the delay is intended to give negotiations with Republicans under way at the White House more time to play out. The Senate majority leader, who didn't appear to have the 60 votes necessary to prevail anyway, says the postponement came at the request of the White House because the talks were making progress.

“There are many elements to be finalized and there is still a distance to go before any arrangement can be completed,” Reid said. “But I believe we should give everyone as much room as possible to do their work.” (Earlier, Mitch McConnell had sounded much more optimistic than Reid about a potential deal.) The New York Times and the AP see Reid's delay as an optimistic sign. (More Harry Reid stories.)

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