Like all of us, I've been watching very closely during the past week the slow but steady growth of the Michael Bennet / Alan Grayson letter urging passage of the Public Option through reconciliation. At some point over the weekend, I began to notice that the signers were coming on board at a steady - almost predictable - pace.
Today, TPM announced the 21st signer, Tim Johnson (SD), and the 22nd signer, Debbie Stabenow (MI). Here is - roughly - the order in which the letter was signed (this list was compiled quickly - please note any corrections needed):
Feb. 22 - Debbie Stabenow
Feb. 22 - Tim Johnson (SD)
Feb. 20 - Robert Menendez (NJ)
Feb. 19 - Arlen Specter (PA)
Feb. 18 - Jeanne Shaheen (NH)
Feb. 18 - Chuck Schumer (NY)
Feb. 18 - Frank Lautenberg (NJ)
Feb. 18 - Barbara Mikulski (MD)
Feb. 18 - Tom Udall (NM)
Feb. 18 - Barbara Boxer (CA)
Feb. 17 - Bernie Sanders (VT)
Feb. 17 - Al Franken (MN)
Feb. 17 - Patrick Leahy (VT)
Feb. 17 - John Kerry (MA)
Feb. 17 - Sheldon Whitehouse (RI)
Feb. 17 - Dianne Feinstein (CA)
Feb. 17 - Roland Burris (IL)
Feb. 17 - Jack Reed (RI)
Feb. 16 - Sherrod Brown (OH)
Feb. 16 - Kirsten Gillibrand (NY)
Feb. 16 - Jeff Merkley (OR)
Feb. 16 - Michael Bennet (CO)
Granted, the data spread is a little tight here, but does this look to anyone else like a timed rollout? The kind the Obama campaign used with great success for endorsements during the Democratic primary, creating a sense of momentum?
Like I say, the observation is less science than speculation. Having said that, if the trickle continues at the current pace, the letter is on track to having an overwhelming majority of Democratic Senators on board just in time for Thursday's "bipartisan" health care summit ("It's a trap!").
What do you think?