Updated Bernanke whip count

Democratic leaders have whipped at least 32 votes in support of Chairman Ben Bernanke's return for a second term at the Federal Reserve Board, while about 14 lawmakers remain opposed, according to The Hill's latest whip count.

Additionally, Senate GOP Leader Mitch McConnell (Ky.) has signaled publicly he is not sure how he will side on Bernanke's seemingly tough confirmation fight. 

The GOP leader said this weekend that Bernanke would ultimately be confirmed with "bipartisan support," but he did not make clear whether he would be among those "yes" votes. 

However, most other Republicans have stayed silent about the Bernanke vote, perhaps in an attempt to compel Democrats to reveal their positions first.

Even if a large number of GOPers do later support the chairman's bid for a second term, their current quiet means that Democrats who have openly backed Bernanke are likely to take most of the early, political heat.

Monday's tally reveals Democrats are halfway there on their trek to cobble together 60 votes in support of Bernanke, but doubt pervades in discussions about the chairman's future. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) will reportedly meet with Bernanke later this afternoon to discuss his seemingly imperiled nomination.

Still, Democratic leaders maintain they can succeed in bringing Bernanke's nomination to a confirmation vote before his term expires at the end of the month.

YES VOTES Chris Dodd (D-Conn.) Tim Johnson (D-S.D.) Jack Reed (D-R.I.) Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) Evan Bayh (D-Ind.) Bob Menendez (D-N.J.) Daniel Akaka (D-Hawaii) Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio) Jon Tester (D-Mont.) Herb Kohl (D-Wis.) Mark Warner (D-Va.) Michael Bennet (D-Colo.) Bob Bennett (R-Utah) Bob Corker (R-Tenn.) Mike Johanns (R-Neb.) Judd Gregg (R-N.H.) Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) Richard Burr (R-N.C.) Richard Lugar (R-Ind.) Susan Collins (R-Maine) Harry Reid (D-Nev.) Mary Landrieu (D-La.) Jeff Bingaman (D-N.M.) Tom Carper (D-Del.) Max Baucus (D-Mont.) Diane Feinstein (D-Calif.) Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) Mary Landrieu (D-La.) Joe Lieberman (I-Conn.) Daniel Inouye (D-Hawaii) George Voinovich (R-Ohio)

NO VOTES Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) Richard Shelby (R-Ala.) Jim Bunning (R-Ky.) Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) David Vitter (R-La.) Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-Texas) Jim DeMint (R-S.C.) Bernard Sanders (I-Vt.) Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.) Jeff Sessions (R-Ala.) Russ Feingold (D-Wis.) Byron Dorgan (D-N.D.) Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.) John McCain (R-Ariz.)

UNCLEAR Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.)

Bob Cusack, Anthony C. Lange and Matthew Coleman contributed to this report. Positions culled from previous Hill whip counts, media reports and interviews.

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