HEALTH REFORM
10
Six Senate Swing Votes
From Dems who swing right to left-leaning GOPers, debate promises suspense
By Harry Kimball
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Posted Oct 14, 09 12:55 PM CDT
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(Newser)
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As health care reform bills merge and change on the Senate floor, the pool of legislators to watch has grown. The Wall Street Journal takes a look:
- Olympia Snowe, R-Maine: Her vote for the Finance Committee bill was clutch, but "doesn't forecast what my vote will be tomorrow," she says.
- Susan Collins, R-Maine: The more conservative of the Maine senators would be a great catch for Dems, but she's even more opposed to a public option than Snowe.
- Blanche Lincoln, D-Arkansas: Lincoln is in the hot seat, up for reelection in 2010 in a state John McCain won last year. Like Snowe, she voted for the Finance bill but said "my support today does not ensure my support for a final product."
- Ben Nelson, D-Nebraska: A conservative Dem who's lukewarm on a government plan and has publicly hoped that a bill pass with a truly bipartisan—and legislatively astronomic—65 votes.
- Mary Landrieu, D-Louisiana: Not up for reelection, but voters in her red state made a huge ruckus at an August town hall, and Landrieu appears to be doing all she can to appease them.
- Roland Burris, D-Illinois: The only one of the 6 who swings the other way, the retiring Burris faces no electoral consequences and has said he will only vote for a bill with a public option.