Earlier today, Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) told reporters that Sen. Blanche Lincoln (D-AR)--a vulnerable incumbent, and a key health care swing vote--had confided in Majority Leader Harry Reid that she'd made up her mind about tomorrow's test vote on health care reform.
That must've touched off some nerves, because he's now issued a statement walking back that contention.
"In a conversation with reporters earlier today, some of my remarks regarding Senator Lincoln were unclear and have been incorrectly interpreted," Durbin's statement reads. "Let me be clear: Senator Lincoln has had a number of conversations with Sen. Reid about the health care reform legislation. She has asked important questions and there has been a positive and healthy give and take. But Sen. Lincoln has not yet signaled her intention as to how she will vote on tomorrow's cloture motion."
Back on the fence, I guess? You can read the entire statement below the fold.
In a conversation with reporters earlier today, some of my remarks regarding Senator Lincoln were unclear and have been incorrectly interpreted.
Let me be clear: Senator Lincoln has had a number of conversations with Sen. Reid about the health care reform legislation. She has asked important questions and there has been a positive and healthy give and take.
But Sen. Lincoln has not yet signaled her intention as to how she will vote on tomorrow's cloture motion. I have worked with Sen. Lincoln for years and know that she will reach a decision that is best for her constituents, her state and the nation.

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Walter Mitty
November 20, 2009 1:23 PM
Lincoln is playing this all wrong. Being so wishy-washy about it loses her voters on both sides. Come out in strong support and folks would think it's a great thing for Arkansans, however being wishy wahsy even if she votes for cloture folks will think she's doing so because of party pressure and if she filibusters it's because she's bought and paid for. If she's on the fence and 59 other Senators she caucuses with are one way, you'd think she'd go with them ie a tie goes to the home team.
People respect strength, even if they disagree with it.
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mans_best_friend
November 20, 2009 1:46 PM in reply to Walter Mitty
The problem is this is her attempt at looking strong to the folks back home in Arkansas. She's standing up against those baaaaaaad Libruls to make them modify the bill so we don't all become socialists. That's her story and she's sticking with it.
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onecrappyusername
November 20, 2009 3:50 PM in reply to Walter Mitty
Agreed. Rural voters want strength in their leaders, more than any other quality.
The silly thing is that she could have come right out of the gate saying that she won't support republican filibusters or a bill with the public option, and still have come off better than she is now. She seems determined to be as weak and noncommital as possible, as if she thinks that's the winning strategy.
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JNagarya
November 20, 2009 4:04 PM in reply to onecrappyusername
There are any number of voters, mostly Republicans, who want "strong leaders" -- not reason, "strong leaders". Even when it's transparent bullying bluster and bullshit strutting, like Reagan and Bushit.
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JennOfArk
November 20, 2009 9:20 PM in reply to Walter Mitty
Darn tootin'. Lincoln holds the seat once held by the highly esteemed Dale Bumpers, who regularly did things that sent knee-jerk Bubbas back in the state into conniption fits, such as voting in favor of returning the canal to Panama. Bumpers would vote in favor of reason and sanity pretty consistently, then come back and say, "I voted this way because of x y and z, which were the most important considerations on the issue for reasons a b and c, and you elect Senators to make reasoned judgements in representing you, and that's what I do." And then he'd get re-elected. Of course, Blanche can't take that tack, because she's pretty consistently voted in favor of whoever gave her a big campaign contribution.
What needs to happen here is for all the Democrats who are on board to have a come to Jesus meeting with these holdouts, and deliver the following message: if we don't get this done, we're ALL going to be in a world of hurt. Don't think that the ones who put us there aren't going to get hurt the worst. If you aren't prepared to support the party on an issue that will cripple our president and the rest of us if we don't produce, you're on your own in the next election.
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Marie
November 20, 2009 1:40 PM
Lincoln you were elected to work for the people not worry about your re-election. If you have been doing your job all along the people of Arkansas will vote for you regardless.
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Rich in NJ
November 20, 2009 2:23 PM
Why is she a Democrat?
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hallam
November 20, 2009 2:27 PM in reply to Rich in NJ
Because the Republicans have gone completely and utterly insane?
When John McCain looks like he is in trouble with the uber-right wing of the party and might well go down in a primary challenge it is time to run for the exits.
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Dorn76
November 20, 2009 2:49 PM in reply to Rich in NJ
Couldn't pass the GOP purity test.
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Rich in NJ
November 20, 2009 3:27 PM in reply to Dorn76
Nice.
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EH
November 20, 2009 3:14 PM
how many ways can, "she's made up her mind," be interpreted?
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baltimore
November 20, 2009 3:16 PM
lincoln will vote the way she is paid. don't you all know that the lobbyists have bought and paid for the congress of the USA?
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GTFOOH
November 20, 2009 4:17 PM
Nice work Durbin...Bring the focus to these blue dogs, trying to walk the fence!
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