Bernanke seems likely to survive

The anti-Ben Bernanke tide seems to have turned, but the nail-biter vote count shows there’s no love lost for the Federal Reserve chairman or the institution he leads.

Bernanke now seems likely to survive a confirmation vote for a second term, despite a groundswell of Senate opposition in recent days. But a close vote could have very real consequences for the future of the Federal Reserve, not least in the outcome of financial reform legislation that’s still percolating in committee.