Reid huddles with centrists

Majority Leader Harry Reid gathered Sens. Ben Nelson (D-Neb.), Mary Landrieu (D-La.), and Blanche Lincoln (D-Ark.) in his office this afternoon, Jeffrey Young reports:

The meeting between Reid and the centrists has special urgency because the Democratic leader plans Wednesday to finally unveil the version of the healthcare reform bill — and its Congressional Budget Office cost estimate — that the Senate will debate after the break.

So far, Landrieu, Lincoln and Nelson have refused to commit to supporting the motion to proceed, which requires 60 votes to be approved. Republicans are unanimous in their opposition, so Reid needs every member of his conference to vote in favor.

Perhaps its not coincidental that an hour or so later, Nelson hinted at support for an initial cloture vote.