Rockefeller: GOP 'bringing the hammer down' on Snowe

Another interesting element of the Jay Rockefeller interview that Michael O'Brien flagged earlier: The West Virginia Democrat says Republicans are being "brutal" to Olympia Snowe to prevent her from getting on board with healthcare reform.

Rockefeller said Republican leaders are doing all they can to stop Snowe from being the 60th vote to pass a Democratic package.

Here's the relevant section of the interview:

What about Olympia Snowe?

I think the world of Olympia Snowe. She's got incredible courage, and the Republican leadership is brutal in the way they apply pressure. Much more so than the Democrats.

[snip]

How do they do this to Snowe?

They bring the hammer down on her, and I'm not going to say how. She's very strong, and she represents a very rural state that has gone blue. So I don't know what she's going to do, and I'll respect her whatever she does. But we need her vote, as Republicans filibuster every single amendment or item we bring out. We don't have 60 members right now. This is where Olympia becomes very important.

Snowe has said she can't support the Baucus plan in its current form, but has hinted that improvements could bring her on board.