Reid Gets His 60 Votes, For Now

At least for continuing debate. Nelson, Lincoln, Landrieu, they're all in.

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) has secured the vital 60th vote he needs to advance healthcare reform legislation with the announcement by Sen. Blanche Lincoln (D-Ark.) that she will vote with her party Saturday evening.

"I have concluded that it is more important to begin this debate rather than just simply drop the issue and walk away," Lincoln said on the Senate floor. "I'm not afraid of that debate."

Of course, Lieberman could pull a Lieberman, and change his mind on this one just for the hell of it (and because he hasn't been in the headlines very often lately), but for now there's no drama left in today's vote.

Now the real fight for a real public option. In agreeing today to continue debate on this bill, Lincoln vowed essentially to join a Republican filibuster.

I've already alerted the Leader and I'm promising my colleagues that I'm prepared to vote against moving to the next stage of consideration as long as a government run public option is included.