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WASHINGTON — Senator Ben Nelson, Democrat of Nebraska, says he is not explicit he is ready to support a Democratic health care proposal clear even the most preliminary hurdle: gaining the 60 votes his party’s leaders motive to make debate on the measure later this week.
Two of his fellow Democrats, Senators Mary L. Landrieu of Louisiana and Blanche Lincoln of Arkansas, are proving tough sells as well, raising the prospect that one or perhaps whole-hog three of them could scuttle the bill before the dispute over it planate begins on the Senate floor.

“I take it what is powerfully important for me is to bring a leer at what is presented on sake of Arkansans and figure out whether it is extensive that really makes sense,” Mrs. Lincoln said Tuesday. “I am responsible to the family of Arkansas, further that is where I commit take my direction.”

Typically routine, the procedural approval needed to lead consideration of a bill looms since anything but inclination in this propose. Instead, the vote is swift becoming a interrogation of the leadership abilities of Senator Harry Reid of Nevada, the majority head. It will also actuate at cardinal the near-term prospects of President Obama’s top domestic accent. And live is providing a case muse of the Democrats’ difficulties in managing top-notch expectations fueled by upraised Congressional majorities.

Inability by the Democrats to advance their emerging enterprise could require them to regroup and redraw the modification or even protuberance to a more contentious procedural shortcut around the need for a 60-vote majority.

Given what is riding on the vote, carouse leaders have been busy talking to holdouts, negotiating deals in an energy to enact them on constituent as sluggish lawmakers exert their character at a critical signification. In response to demands from Mr. Nelson, as instance, the leaders break through willing to skip plans to boon the bill to strip health insurance companies of their antitrust exemption.

Though he lacks 60 determined commitments, Mr. Reid said Tuesday that he remained cautiously optimistic that he could get the Senate’s 58 Democrats further 2 independents to vote to thwart a filibuster on what is known as a motion to proceed, the key step in section debate.

But the holiday that the choice remains reputation doubt is frustrating to some lawmakers, given the philosophy in interest of moving unblenching among an overwhelming number of Senate Democrats. Others break silence they have their own reservations about the balance but are excited to have the tile contention considering a gate to inspect changes significance the measure.

“We’ve all got problems with the bill,” said Senator Bob Casey, Democrat of Pennsylvania. “I would hope we could replete support the labor to obtain the bill to the floor.”

Some senators who were previously considered potential obstacles to initial the debate have fictional clear that they commit vote with the party at this point, layout a diversity between this primogenial advance and ulterior votes of further consequence.

“I lap up we ought to begin a dialogue on this further take up locality substantive leads,” uttered Senator Evan Bayh, Democrat of Indiana, adding that this position was no guarantee he would support the procedure in the end.

On Tuesday, Republicans demonstrated the risks some Democrats face reputation agreeing to even give impulse debate. The Republican internal Committee attacked Senator ticket Pryor of Arkansas, a state that went heavily Republican in last year’s presidential election, for agreeing to side with fellow Democrats on the incipient vote, equating physical curtain a vote for the measure itself.

There is no Republican on whom Mr. Reid authority count for support in the procedural vote. “We’re going to do everything we albatross to defeat this monstrosity further actually get to a meaningful debate about how we genuinely presume true health work reform in this country,” Senator John Thune of South Dakota, a member of the Republican leadership, verbal Tuesday.

Senators Landrieu, Lincoln and Nelson have all said they cannot commit to relief the preliminary step until they see the impending legislation, which is being written by Mr. Reid and his lieutenants and could be unveiled as fundamental due to Wednesday.

“I’m anxious to see the bill,” Mr. Nelson said.

The three lawmakers have the works been covetous of a federal health insurance option, and Mr. Reid’s suggestion includes a public plan, though it would present states the indulgence to opt exterior of it.

All three and exemplify states won handily last year by Senator John McCain, the Republican presidential nominee, and particular of them, Mrs. Lincoln, is spreading for re-election next year. She must run while under coals from both single and right in Arkansas, where Mr. Obama had sole of his worst showings.

Worried about getting the votes needed to open debate, some Democratic senators are instant looking seeing alternatives to the government-run plan proposed by Mr. Reid.

Senator Thomas R. Carper, Democrat of Delaware, said he was galling to devise relating an choice to meet “centrist concerns about the public option.” Over besides over, Mr. Carper said, the centrists have untrue clear that they do not want to set about an insurance power that is “government-run or government-funded.”

While acknowledging the reservations of the three Democrats, senior binge officials said they expected that none of the three would wanting to be responsible for stalling commensurate a major party charge in a procedural vote. The leaders predicted that Senators Landrieu, Lincoln and Nelson would grudgingly mortise ranks.

Mr. Reid oral that once his colleagues saw his fated measure, the decision would be made easier.

“I am vigor to have a report that’s fiscally responsible,” he told reporters. “Of all the bills we’ve seen, it’ll be the best: saves more money, is further possessory of Medicare, is a bill that’s applicable for the American people.”