Could the senate version of the healthcare bill come down to one vote? Yesterday on the Sunday talkfests, Joe Lieberman (I-CT) was about as blunt as he could be about not supporting the recent compromise practically all the Democrats and the president agreed upon as an equalizing factor among the party to get the bill through the Senate: Medicare expansion to include beneficiaries at 55.

Of course, this all rests upon the party (with 59 out of 60 votes if abortion provisions are modified to please Ben Nelson [D-NE]) in securing the vote — essentially a prize of sorts — from Olympia Snowe (R-ME), the only moderate to show any interest in what the Dems have to offer. The Senate has to wrap things up this week if they hope to get any bill on Obama’s desk early next year. At this point, no matter the outcome, it appears some Democrats reasons’ for agreeing to any compromise with such white-knuckled urgency should be met with skepticism — as in the the kind that asks “can I count on your vote in 2010?”. | LINK

UPDATE: The WH wants this thing to go through. Pressuring Maj. Ldr. Reid to “cut a deal” with Lieberman.

Reid has called a special Democratic caucus meeting for 5:30 p.m. Monday. And President Barack Obama invited the caucus to a meeting Tuesday at the White House.

Crunch time.

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