Reid: We’ll break filibuster with Franken

Al Franken will break the first Republican filibuster of an Obama nominee. That was the vow of Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid before GOP senators blocked President Obama’s nomination of David Hayes as deputy Secretary of the Interior. “If we have to wait until Al Franken comes, he’s going to be confirmed,” said Reid. Reid makes Franken’s eventual arrival — which would give the Democrats 60 votes, enough to head off GOP filibusters — sound like the coming of a prophesied messiah. Reid has been burned before by saying that Franken would soon be seated or promising that he would make it so.

The C-SPAN2 video clip is here (Franken line comes at the 7:35 mark).

David Hayes will be confirmed. If I have to wait until Al Franken comes, he’s going to be confirmed. We are going to confirm David Hayes. Everyone should understand that. If we happen to lose this today, I will just move to reconsider until we have the votes.

Having the votes may not actually require Franken. Yesterday’s vote was 57-39, with Reid strategically voting against Hayes so he could more easily bring his nomination back on a future day.

Three Democrats were out sick, and two Republicans voted for the nomination. With all Democrats on hand the filibuster could fall — if Reid can keep at least one GOP defector.

But that may not be easy, since one of the Democrats is Edward Kennedy, whose battle with brain cancer keeps him away from the Capitol for most votes. Errant Republicans will feel strong pressure to close ranks.

And that’s where the wait for Franken could come in.

Should his 312-vote lead survive review by the Minnesota Supreme Court after oral arguments set for June 1, Franken could be seated in the Senate quickly — as long as Republican Gov. Tim Pawlenty issues him an election certificate.