Dems Hit 60 Votes; Landrieu, Lincoln Announce Support

Two key Dems said Saturday they will support a key test vote on the health care bill, giving Sen. Maj. Leader Harry Reid the 60 votes he needs to begin debate.

Sens. Mary Landrieu (D-LA) and Blanche Lincoln (D-AR) said they would back Reid's position in the rare Saturday night vote.

"I have decided that there are enough significant reforms and safeguards in this bill to move forward but much more work needs to be done," Landrieu said on the floor today.

"Although I don't agree with everything in this bill, I have concluded that I believe it is more important that we begin this debate to improve our nation's health care system for all Americans rather than drop the issue," Lincoln added in her own speech.

The two centrists were the last two Dems who remained uncommitted. Sen. Ben Nelson (D-NE) said on Friday he would vote for the bill.

GOPers have attempted to portray the test vote as tantamount to voting in favor of the entire bill. The NRSC hit Lincoln, who faces a difficult re-election battle next year, calling her vote "unequivocally" in favor of the bill.

"There's no doubt that this vote will be a critical issue for Senator Lincoln as she embarks on her uphill re-election bid, and the people of Arkansas will have an opportunity to hold her accountable when they cast their ballots next November," NRSC spokesperson Amber Wilkerson Marchand said in a statement.

Meanwhile, GOPers used Landrieu's announcement to hit Reid, who is facing his own re-election fight. Reid included a provision in the bill that would give her state $100M to address its Medicaid budget shortfall.

"As with most deals Harry Reid cuts in Washington, advancing the agenda of the special interests on the left was more important today than protecting the interests of Nevada taxpayers," the NRSC's Brian Walsh said, labeling the provision the "new Louisiana purchase."

Dems have pushed back on the notion that the initial vote is akin to an endorsement of the whole bill.

"Attempts by the National Republican Party and other conservative groups to portray this as a vote for or against this particular health care reform bill is untrue and deliberately misleading," Lincoln said in her floor speech. "The vote tonight will mark the beginning of consideration of this bill by the full U.S. Senate, not the end."

Dems are eager to get health care off the table, and tonight's vote will be a major victory for Reid and his party. But they still have a ways to go before the final product gets to Pres. Obama's desk.

(REID WILSON)