Swing Voters To Play Trump Cards In Senate Showdown

With Republicans almost unanimously opposed to a healthcare overhaul and with 60 votes needed to thwart a threatened GOP filibuster, every Democrat and independent has become vital for Senate strategists. And so like a cloud of mosquitoes, lawmakers are making their presence felt -- claiming a central role in the debate and suggesting a variety of legislative provisions and concessions they would like in return for their support when a final vote is taken. "When you need that big a majority, every individual member has clout," said William Schneider, the veteran political analyst who works for Third Way, a centrist think tank. "Particularly those who are on the fence, moderate Republicans and moderate Democrats. Everyone whose vote is at all up in the air can be decisive."