Wednesday, Oct. 1, 2008 | 10:33 p.m.
WASHINGTON -- The 12 votes still needed in the House to pass the $700 billion bailout legislation wasn't the topic for discussion tonight.
The Senate had just approved a slightly amended bailout bill in a dramatic 74-25 roll call vote that brought presidential contenders Barack Obama and John McCain in from the campaign trail.
Senators usually register their votes then dash off the floor. But tonight they sat in their desks and one by one cast their ayes and nays.
Around 9 p.m., before the voting began, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid stood before the chamber and a packed gallery of visitors and finished a speech with a promise.
"Help is on the way."
Minutes later, the 99 votes were in. Reid and Sen. Christopher Dodd, the Connecticut Democrat who had led discussions for his party, embraced. More hugs and handshakes.
"The journey to tonight was not pretty," Dodd told reporters after a post-vote press conference.
But was there any indication the House, which fell 12 votes short of passing an earlier version of the bill Monday in a stunning shake-up, would go along?
"That's above my pay-grade," Dodd said.
The House takes up the issue Thursday with a vote scheduled for Friday. Nevada's Democratic Rep. Shelley Berkley and Republican Rep. Dean Heller initially had voted against the bill. Neither of their offices would comment today about the new legislation. Republican Rep. Jon Porter voted for the bailout bill Monday. His constituents were not pleased, though some were coming around to his side. His office said the calls on Tuesday were running about 2-to-1 against the bailout.
By 10 p.m. tonight, as the halls around the Senate were clearing, Reid headed toward the elevator, on his way home.
How was he doing, a few reporters asked, on this long night after a long two weeks since Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson first called congressional leaders to a late evening meeting to unload the nation's economic crisis.
Reid didn't say much.
But he smiled like he doesn't always do.
It was noted that he had been giving out a lot of hugs on the Senate floor. So from inside the elevator, he reached out to hug a few reporters.
As the elevator doors shut, Sen. John Warner, the Republican from Virginia, registered the moment.
"I think I saw a ray of happiness in him I haven't seen in a long time."
Join the Discussion:
Check this out for a full explanation of our conversion to the LiveFyre commenting system and instructions on how to sign up for an account.
Full comments policy