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VOL. 3 NO. 162 POLITImonday, November 23, 2009CO www..com

HEALTH CARE Still a Very Rough Road Ahead “I don’t want a big-government, Washing- Senate GOP leader vows: ‘The battle has just begun’ ton-run operation that would undermine the private insurance that 200 million Ameri- By Ca r r i e Bu d o f f Br o w n And the reasons were on display again cans now have,” Nelson said on ABC’s “This a n d Pa t r i c k O’Co n n o r Sunday: deep divides among Democrats on Week With George Stephanopoulos.” john shinkle — politico a public insurance plan, abortion and other Add to them the two centrists who spoke Sen. Jim DeMint Senate Majority Leader eked issues. Two of the Senate’s leading centrists out during Saturday’s vote — Blanche Lin- out 60 votes to start the health care debate, — Ben Nelson (D-Neb.) and coln (D-Ark.) and Mary Landrieu (D-La.) but there’s no guarantee he can pass a bill (I-Conn.) — said they couldn’t support the — and Reid is far from having the votes to on the merits when the Senate takes up the bill in its current form, mainly over the pub- DeMint: A issue after Thanksgiving. lic option. See health care on Page 22 Tea Party Crowd Favorite

By Ma n u Ra j u a n d Jo s h Kr a u s h a a r

If you’re an underdog conserva- tive running for Congress, Sen. Jim DeMint (R-S.C.) should be on your speed dial these days. A favorite of the tea party crowd and a longtime scourge for Demo- crats and some Republicans alike inside the Senate chamber, DeMint has emerged as the leading benefac- tor for any Republican who wants to challenge the establishment can- didates backed by the National Re- publican Senatorial Committee. DeMint has already endorsed conservative Assemblyman Chuck DeVore over party favorite Carly Fiorina in the Senate race and was the first member of Congress to back conservative Mar- john shinkle — politico co Rubio over Gov. Charlie Crist in Majority Leader Harry Reid and Sen. Chris Dodd speak after Saturday’s health care vote, which passed by a razor-thin margin. the closely watched Florida Senate race. He has been openly consider- ing an endorsement of a conserva- tive political unknown in the Illi- Senate filibusters Lincoln’s long walk Catholic Bishops flex nois Senate race against moderate Republican Rep. Mark Kirk. just aren’t what to 60th Senate vote their muscle and see And in a sign of his growing in- fluence, several of the party’s more they used to be By Ma n u Ra j u opportunities ahead moderate candidates are looking a n d Ch r i s Fr a t e s for DeMint’s support to give them By An d i e Co l l e r By Je a n n e Cu mm i n g s some conservative street cred, like Sen. Blanche Lincoln (D-Ark.) was a day of and If you’ve been hoping to see Sen. Joe Lie- away from casting a vote that could change Emboldened by their success in inserting Kelly Ayotte of New Hampshire, berman star in a sequel to “Mr. Smith Goes her political career when she got a phone call restrictive abortion language into the House who have begun to reach out to the to Washington” this holiday season, you from someone who knew what she was going health care bill, Roman Catholic bishops say junior senator from South Caro- can put away the microwave popcorn. through. they’ve found a lobbying model that could lina. Fury over the Connecticut senator’s an- “I know you’re tired, but we need a glass of provide them a louder voice in future policy These moves are signs that can- nouncement that he might join Republicans wine,” Sen. Mary Landrieu (D-La.), the fellow debates. didates believe a blessing from to filibuster a vote on the Senate health care centrist who also had not yet announced her “It was a good example of how we, as a DeMint not only may hold off right- bill has Democrats clamoring for Majority position, said she told Lincoln. conference, can work together to have a posi- wing challenges in the Republican Leader Harry Reid to grab his teddy bear The health reform vote hinged on these tive influence on legislation,” Bishop William primaries but also could open up and let ’em talk all night. two Southern senators, and there they were Murphy, head of the domestic justice and hu- new lines of funding from an in- But the public isn’t likely to see Lieber- on Friday night, together at an Italian res- man development committee of the U.S. Con- creasingly passionate, grass-roots man offer a dramatic reading of the New taurant, along with Sens. Michael Bennet ference of Bishops, told the Catholic News

See Demint on Page 12 See filibuster on Page 17 See lincoln on Page 7 See catholics on Page 7

inside politico 44 news ideas Sen. Dick click Republicans and Democrats Clear skies ahead for a new Remember ’s com- Lugar A really rare find these days: squabble over mammograms. generation of wartime drones. passion for health care reform. a Rhodes scholar in Congress. John Shinkle — Page 3 Page 9 Page 19 Politico Page 24