Mike Allen and Chris Frates examine every possibility connected with Olympia Snowe's vote today on the Finance Committee's health care proposal. I'll let you figure out the old Maine lingo about what the weather's going to be.
Bottom line: which wind is driving Snowe? Frates and Allen agree that nothing is for sure -- no matter how she votes.
Snowe has left herself enough room that no matter how she votes today she’ll be able to change it later. A no today can become a yes tomorrow as Snowe continues using her leverage to shape the bill. Conversely, a yes today can switch overnight if she feels leadership stepped all over her concerns while shaping the legislation. As Democrats’ last best hope at winning a GOP vote, Snowe will continue to hold a good deal of sway. If she votes no, some observers may start ringing the reconciliation bell – a rookie mistake, according to some insiders.
