Uphill battle for the 60 Senate votes needed on healthcare

The unveiling of a compromise healthcare proposal has Senate Democrats pondering how to keep all 59 Democrats united and attract at least one Republican to pass an overhaul measure. Advocates of healthcare overhaul face an extremely delicate balancing act: With the death of Senator Edward M. Kennedy of Massachusetts, Democrats control 59 seats, meaning they need at least one Republican to join them if they are to proceed without employing a procedural shortcut that could cause havoc in the Senate, notes the New York Times.