At this point, conventional wisdom suggests that it will be difficult for Republicans to force and win a vote before the midterm elections on extending tax cuts for all Americans. The main obstacle is the Senate, where Republicans would have to get 19 Democratic votes. There are now five Democratic senators on record favoring the more comprehensive extension that Republicans want. And there are several more who have not yet declared but might reasonably be expected to join Republicans if the issue were brought to an up-or-down vote – Mary Landrieu, Blanche Lincoln, and Mark Warner.
While the numbers suggest it’ll be difficult to score a legislative victory – at least before the election, it’s certainly possible to score a political one. If Democrats skip town and avoid a vote altogether, one of several options Democratic leadership is reportedly considering, Republican candidates can argue that their opponents did nothing to prevent a massive tax hike.
