To recap, Bill Frist and the Senate GOP need 50 votes to execute the nuclear option. Dems have their 44 votes, Jim Jeffords’ independent vote, and two Republican senators — John McCain and Linc Chafee — who are on record saying they’d vote against it.
Over the last few days, a number of Republicans who had been considered “on the fence” announced their support for Frist’s nuclear plan, including Thad Cochran (Miss.), Norm Coleman (Minn.), Chuck Grassley (Iowa), and Judd Gregg (N.H.). Of that list, only Cochran and Gregg were considered genuine outreach targets.
And so the wrangling continues.
With the fate of judicial filibusters hanging in the balance, just seven Senate Republicans remain publicly undecided on changing the rules to eliminate the parliamentary move.
And with only two Republicans officially on the record as opposing the rule change, Majority Leader Bill Frist (R-Tenn.) appears to need the support of four of the seven remaining undecided Senators in order to pass the change by the slimmest of margins.
So, who’s on Roll Call’s list on undecideds? Sens. Susan Collins (Maine), Chuck Hagel (Neb.), Dick Lugar (Ind.), Lisa Murkowski (Alaska), Olympia Snowe (Maine), Arlen Specter (Pa.), and John Warner (Va.). Which ever side gets four of these seven will prevail.
Collins and Snowe have hinted at opposition and Dems on the Hill generally count them as “no” votes when doing nuclear head counts. Likewise, Lugar and Murkowski are believed to be leaning in the other direction. Warner and Specter have publicly criticized the nuclear option, but remain noncommittal, while Hagel is a complete mystery.
Stay tuned.