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"World News", "Evening News" and "Nightly News" led with Afghanistan.

Sen. Joe Lieberman (I-CT) was a cable news lighting rod 10/27 p.m.

Sen. Ron Wyden (D-OR), on how many times Lieberman can "get away with spitting" in Dems' faces before they "say no more": "There is a long, long tradition of United States senators saying no until about five minutes before they say yes. As Harry Reid indicated, this debate is just starting"

Wyden, on whether it's "appropriate" for Pres. Obama to stay out of the discussion given that he might be able to "pressure" Lieberman: "The president is not at all removed from this debate. He and his team are very involved. He's picking his spots. ... What we're all going to do is put the focus where it ought to be, that's holding the insurance companies accountable" (MSNBC, 10/27).

Sen. John McCain (R-AZ), on Lieberman: "He tells me what he said publicly, and that is that given this proposal as he reads it, and that he would not vote to cut off debate, which is, as I mentioned, that critical vote. The final passage, they only need 51 votes. They need 60 to cut off debate and end the filibuster. That's what he is saying. And he is a man of honesty, integrity and one of the finest men I've ever known in my life" ("Hannity," FNC, 10/27).

After the jump, more on Lieberman, MN Gov. Tim Pawlenty (R) has a dog in the NY-23 fight, and WH sr. adviser Valerie Jarrett is interviewed.

(ABBY LIVINGSTON)

And pundits also discussed Lieberman 10/27 p.m.

MSNBC's Olbermann: "Lieberman was ... dead in his water with his own voters before today. They overwhelmingly support the public option. The Republican governor of Connecticut supports the public option and introduced one. And now, he goes public saying he will block a vote on the public option? I don't know enough about politics to really say I know everything here, but it seems to me, this is a little akin to saying, 'I don't care if you elect me, again'" ("Countdown," 10/27).

Huffington Post's Stein: "I think what he's done is essentially put himself in a position where he can make demands, and that's what you do when you're someone who sits on the fence. He's going to move the legislation in a direction that he wants. I think it's counterintuitive to the interest of [people] from Connecticut" ("Ed Show," MSNBC, 10/27).

"TERROR FROM MINNESOTA" ON THE LOOSE

MN Gov. Tim Pawlenty (R) made the TV rounds 10/27 p.m. to discuss his endorsement of accountant Douglas Hoffman (C) in the NY-23 special election.

Pawlenty, on why he's backing Hoffman rather than the GOPer in the race: "This is a federal congressional race, so it ultimately affects the whole country to some manner or degree. And in this case, as a party, if we're going to endorse candidates for major office, there have to be at least some minimum requirements that that candidate meets in terms of his or her beliefs and positions on issues, and the endorsed candidate in this case, with all due respect, just didn't meet even the minimum standards in that regard."

Pawlenty: "There's latitude in the party. We're not going to all agree on all issues. So we got to have some room for that, and I agree with that perspective. But in this case they so kicked it in the dugout it doesn't even pass a minimum standard" ("Your World," FNC, 10/27).

Pawlenty, on ex-House Speaker Newt Gingrich's criticism alluding to Pawlenty as an outside meddler in NY-23: "I love Newt Gingrich. He's a friend and a colleague and somebody I respect and admire, but he and I just respectfully disagree on this issue" ("On The Record," FNC, 10/27).

WashingtonMonthly.com's Benen, weighed in on Pawlenty's moves on the "Rachel Maddow Show" 10/27 p.m.

Benen, on the message Pawlenty is sending by getting involved in NY 23: "I think he's sending a message and that message is: he's running for president. At this point, everyone in the base is looking to see who is going to be signing up on the Hoffman campaign and it's something of a litmus test. I think that anyone who wants to be taken seriously in 2012 is going to have to demonstrate right now that they're supporting the Hoffman campaign."

More Benen: "And Pawlenty has been an interesting case; it's an interesting case right now. He has what I kind of call Romney-itis. He's a blue state governor known for not being somewhat reasonable, somewhat pragmatic on some issues and yet demonstrates at the Tea Party crowd that he can be just as big a tea bagger as anyone else. And so, here he is right now, supporting Hoffman for just that reason" (MSNBC, 10/27).

ONE STEP AT A TIME

Jarrett discussed the two biggest issues on Obama's plate on "Campbell Brown" 10/27 p.m.

Jarrett, on whether Obama is "trapped ...bit between civilian advisers and his military advisers" on Afghanistan: "I don't think he feels that way at all. I think that it's a complicated issue. And what the generals say is very important and he's certainly taking that into consideration" (CNN, 10/27).

Jarrett, on the Reid health care plan: "So, we're delighted that Senator Reid, together with Senator Dodd, have made all the progress that they have in the Senate. I think you should take a minute and just say five committees for the first time in history have approved a bill, have approved bills, and all of those bills are consistent with the basic parameters that the president set forth at the beginning of the process. We're almost there, and he is confident that we're going to have health care reform this year" (CNN, 10/27).