GOPer says narrow Brown loss could derail healthcare

Even if Republican candidate Scott Brown loses the Massachusetts special Senate election Tuesday night, the Democratic healthcare bill still might be dead, a GOP lawmaker said Tuesday.

Despite the fact Brown has shown leads over Democrat Martha Coakley in several polls, Rep. Bob Inglis (R-S.C.) on Twitter said that a strong second place bid by Brown could cause the negotiations to "short out:"

Health care steam roller (the one that's been hot wired by Pelosi, Reid & Obama) may short out in Mass--even if Scott Brown just gets close.

Only a Brown victory would ensure that the GOP could make it even more difficult for Democrats to pass the bill. Brown has said he would join a filibuster of the healthcare, depriving Democrats of their 60 seat supermajority should he win. 

The state senator has unexpectedly taken the lead in several polls heading into Tuesday's voting. Brown and the state Attorney General Coakley are facing off to take the late Sen. Ted Kennedy's (D) former seat.

Meanwhile, Democrats are continuing work to merge the healthcare bills, but are continuing to contemplate alternative scenarios should Brown win and be seated before lawmakers can vote to pass the merged bill.

Inglis alluded to his notion last week, when he said that Republicans could claim victory in Massachusetts even with a Brown second-place finish.

Cross-posted to the Twitter Room