Senate Democrats failed to collect enough votes this morning to pass a bill that would force President Bush to begin pulling troops out of Iraq within 120 days. After a spirited all-night debate, 52 voted in favor of the measure and 47 against, but rules require 60 "yes" votes to avert a Republican filibuster.
As expected, Gordon Smith, Olympia Snowe, and Chuck Hagel voted with the Democrats and Joe Lieberman with the GOP; Susan Collins unexpectedly also backed the redeployment. “Stop blocking a vote on this crucial, war-ending amendment,” Harry Reid urged. Countered Norm Coleman: “We need to change mission, but we have to do it thoughtfully.” (More Democrats stories.)