60 Votes No Quick Fix for Senate Dems

Majority leader faces 'a lot more pressure'

(NEWSER) - Al Franken brings Harry Reid a potential extra vote—but he also brings the Senate majority leader a massive headache, Politico reports. “What’s really changed for us?” says a leadership aide. “Nothing, really. Except there’s a lot more pressure.” That may be an understatement: Democrats won’t likely vote as a single bloc, but they'll still blame Reid if he fails to get results (and even if he does). If he compromises too much, he’ll draw fire from the left; if he “rams through” lefty bills, he’ll get pounded by the right. More»

Nebraska seat could shift to Republicans in Senate

(NEWSER) - Nebraska Sen. Ben Nelson won't seek reelection next year, potentially harming Democratic hopes to hold onto the Senate majority, Politico reports. Though Nelson's approval ratings had struggled, they were on the rise this year, thanks in part to $1 million in national Democratic Party advertising. Meanwhile, Republicans spent hundreds of thousands criticizing Nelson's record, focusing on his support for health care reform. Analysts are mixed on the impact of the decision. More»

Critics slam Senate bill's special deals for holdouts

(NEWSER) - A close look at the health bill before the Senate reveals that there was no shortage of pork-barrel spending thrown in to get the Democrats the 60 votes they needed. The "cash-for-cloture" deals include one dubbed the "Louisiana Purchase"—$100 million in Medicare cash for the state. Another one labeled the "Cornhusker Kickback" provides $100 million for holdout Sen. Ben Nelson's Nebraska, the Washington Post reports. Chris Dodd threw in $100 million for a medical center in his state, quickly dubbed the "U Con." And the list goes on. More»

(NEWSER) - Norm Coleman isn't going to drag out Minnesota's Senate fight any longer. Coleman conceded the race to Al Franken today, hours after the state's Supreme Court decreed that Democrat Franken was the rightful winner of November's election, reports the Minneapolis Star Tribune. "Further litigation damages the unity of our state," said Coleman. "The future today is that we have a new United States senator." More»

Under Obama, Majority Leader no longer needs to be attacker

(NEWSER) - When George Bush was boss, Harry Reid had to play attack dog—but with Barack Obama in office, the Senate majority leader has returned to a role more comfortable to him, writes Shailagh Murray in a Washington Post profile. These days, he’s a “dealmaker”—like Obama, he aims to win bipartisan support for legislation. And he fits the post well, says Rahm Emanuel. “He knows all the senators' strengths and vulnerabilities.” More»