Hotline After Dark -- Reiding Between The Lines

"World News" and "Evening News" led with the investigation into the plane overshooting Minneapolis, MN. "Nightly News" led with Afghanistan.

Pundits and pols discussed Sen. Maj. Leader Harry Reid's state opt-out plan for health care reform on TV 10/26 p.m.

ABC's Stephanopoulos, on the possibility of the Dems losing Sen. Olympia Snowe's (R-ME) support: "The president was very skeptical of this move by Harry Reid for just this reason" ("World News," ABC, 10/26).

House Maj. Whip James Clyburn: "We can now say to our members, this fear that you had that we would be walking the plank on something that had no chance of being introduced into the Senate, passed in the Senate. Here is Senator Reid telling us he has 56 or 57 votes for this public option. All we have to do now is make sure we don't allow that 41 percent to overrule that 56 percent" ("Ed Show," MSNBC, 10/26).

Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC): "They are trying to get votes. They got themselves in a corner, and this is a dangerous time for the American people. They floated this big government idea. The public did not like it, so they are trying to repackage it. You can opt out of it if you do not like it" ("On The Record," FNC, 10/26).

NBC's K. O'Donnell: "For more liberal Democrats, this kind of public option, or any kind of public option, is considered a victory" ("Nightly News," NBC, 10/26).

After the jump, more Reid reax, the NJ GOV race and ex-House Speaker Newt Gingrich's take on the NY-23 special election.

(ABBY LIVINGSTON)

Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-NY), on why he thinks the Reid can get moderate Dems to vote for a public option: "The reason I think, there's a lot of confidence in our caucus is Harry Reid. He's the best vote counter there is. He spent a lot of time with each of them and I wouldn't bet against Harry Reid. ... Don't bet against him"("Countdown," MSNBC, 10/26).

Newsweek's Alter, on Reid and the public option: "He listened to common sense for the Democratic party, not just his own interests in Nevada" ("Ed Show," MSNBC, 10/26).

CHRISTIE AND CORZINE WEIGH IN

NJ GOV candidates NJ Gov. Jon Corzine (D) and Ex-U.S. Atty Chris Christie (R) barnstormed cable 10/26 p.m.

Corzine, on his ad against Christie that says Christie throws his weight around: "I don't give a hoot about his weight. What I do care about and what that ad was about, how many people do you know that drive the wrong way down a one-way street, hit somebody on a motorcycle, that person ends up in the hospital for five or six days, and walk away without a ticket?"

More Corzine: "How many people can abuse their power, abuse their office by flashing their credentials, throw their weight around, however you want to say it? How many people do you know that are watching this could drive down a one-way street?"

Corzine, on whether, if he could re-make the ad, he'd have used a "different phrase than throw his weight around" to make the point: "As opposed to having that discussion divert away from the abuse of power in that office, I think that's probably a good idea" ("Situation Room," CNN, 10/26).

Christie on the ads: "It's silly, and it's beneath the office he holds. And the worst part of it is, I wish he'd just step up and admit it. Admit that that's what they were trying to do. But they continue to deny: 'Oh, no, that's not what we meant.' And the fact of the matter is, I've struggled with my weight for a good number of years."

More Christie: "The governor never said, when I was U.S. attorney, put all those folks in jail for seven years, he never expressed any concern about my weight then. Only when I was going to run against him today" ("Hannity," FNC, 10/26).

YOU KNOW I'M IN LOVE WITH AN UPSTATE GIRL

Gingrich discussed the NY-23 race "On The Record" 10/26 p.m.

Gingrich, on prominent GOPer endorsements of accountant Doug Hoffman (C) over Assemb. Dede Scozzafava (R): "I just find it fascinating that my many friends who claim to be against Washington having too much power, they claim to be in favor of the 10th Amendment giving states back their rights, they claim to favor local control and local authority, now they suddenly get local control and local authority in upstate New York, they don't like the outcome.

Gingrich, on whether the endorsements of MN Gov. Tim Pawlenty (R) and ex-AK Gov. Sarah Palin (R) is '12 positioning: "Look, I have no idea. I think in the case of Governor Palin, she's clearly part of the conservative movement in a very national kind of way. The conservative movement has gotten very excited about this race, I think largely on misinformation."

Gingrich, on whether his endorsement of Scozzafava in NY-23 means he's positioning himself for '12: "It means that as somebody who worked with Reagan to create a majority in 1980 and somebody who worked to create a majority in 1994, I believe in a Republican Party big enough to have representation in every part of the country, and I believe you don't strengthen yourself by having a purge. You strengthen yourself by attracting more people, not by driving people away" (FNC, 10/26).