So it looks like Harry Reid wasn't bluffing last night. Ben Nelson declared his support for the bill this morning, albeit with a pretty stark warning at the end:

Let me be clear. This cloture vote is based on the full understanding that there will be a limited conference between the Senate and the House.

If there are material changes in that conference report different from this bill that adversely affect the agreement, I reserve the right to vote against the next cloture vote.

Let me repeat it: I reserve the right to vote against the next cloture vote if there are material changes to this agreement in the conference report. And I will vote against it if that is the case.

Barring some unforeseen glitch, Nelson appears to give Reid his 60th vote needed to invoke cloture and proceed to a 7pm Christmas Eve vote on the newly revised health care bill where a simple majority vote will send the legislation to conference.

That's where the real battle will begin. It appears that any of the changes wanted by House liberals to move the bill to the left could shatter Reid's fragile coalition in the Senate.  It will be fascinating to see if the Dems will be able to thread what looks to be one of the smallest needles ever.

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