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Dems on Edge

Former President Bill Clinton, left, clasps hands with Martha Coakley, right, candidate for the U.S. Senate seat left empty by the death of Sen. Edward M. Kennedy, D-Mass., at the conclusion of a campaign rally in Boston, Friday, Jan. 15, 2010. (Steven Senne / Associated Press)
By D.F. Oliveria daveo@spokesman.com(509) 319-0354
Former President Bill Clinton, left, clasps hands with Martha Coakley, right, candidate for the U.S. Senate seat left empty by the death of Sen. Edward M. Kennedy, D-Mass., at the conclusion of a campaign rally in Boston, Friday, Jan. 15, 2010. (Steven Senne / Associated Press)
Former President Bill Clinton, left, clasps hands with Martha Coakley, right, candidate for the U.S. Senate seat left empty by the death of Sen. Edward M. Kennedy, D-Mass., at the conclusion of a campaign rally in Boston, Friday, Jan. 15, 2010. (Steven Senne / Associated Press)

Former President Bill Clinton, left, clasps hands with Martha Coakley, right, candidate for the U.S. Senate seat left empty by the death of Sen. Edward M. Kennedy, D-Mass., at the conclusion of a campaign rally in Boston, Friday, Jan. 15, 2010

BOSTON – A panicky White House and Democratic allies scrambled Sunday for a plan to salvage their hard-fought health care package in case a Republican wins Tuesday’s Senate race in Massachusetts, which would enable the GOP to block further Senate action.

The likeliest scenario would require persuading House Democrats to accept a bill the Senate passed last month, despite their objections to several parts.

Aides consulted Sunday amid fears that Republican Scott Brown will defeat Democrat Martha Coakley in the special election to fill the late Edward M. Kennedy’s seat. A Brown win would give the GOP 41 Senate votes, enough to filibuster and block final passage of the House-Senate compromise on health care now being crafted.

What do you think the odds are that Scott Brown will win this seat?

* This story was originally published as a post from the blog "Huckleberries Online." Read all stories from this blog