Reid Gambles by Pushing Reform Vote

Harry Reid's decision to schedule a crucial test vote Monday on the financial reform bill is a political gamble, write Carrie Budoff Brown and Meredith Shiner at Politico. For starters, he still needs to convince one Republican to oppose a filibuster between now and then, and while talks seem to be making progress, there's no guarantee a bipartisan deal will emerge.

Reid is likely looking to put some heat on those talks, but he's also calculating that if the vote ultimately fails, Republicans will be seen as aiding and abetting Wall Street's wicked ways and will consequently pay a price at the polls. The vote, however, also is risky for Reid on his home turf. A loss could prove embarrassing to him back in Nevada, where he's locked in a tight re-election fight. "Especially if Republicans can convince the public Reid is trying to ram through reg reform along partisan lines," write Brown and Shiner. (More Harry Reid stories.)