WASHINGTON (AP) — The markets were open, and the stability of the stock market was on the line. But in a rare move, the Senate this week kept a suspenseful debt limit vote hidden from the public as it was playing out in real time.

What was clear as the vote dragged on was that Republicans were reluctant to vote to overcome a filibuster by tea party favorite Ted Cruz. That left the debt limit measure teetering on the edge of failure.