A stamp of approval from Snowe could also clear the way for other Republicans, such as Senators Susan Collins of Maine and George Voinovich of Ohio, to back the effort. Collins joined with Snowe to support Obama’s economic-stimulus package in February, and Voinovich has been pegged as a possible Republican vote for a health-care overhaul by lawmakers including his fellow Ohio senator, Democrat Sherrod Brown.
Collins, 56, said she would be “very interested” in Snowe’s decision, though she said it wouldn’t determine her vote as she goes through her own evaluation.
“Both Olympia and I are pretty used to being a vote that can’t be taken for granted by either side,” Collins said in an interview.
Snowe’s vote also might provide some cover for Democrats from charges that they rammed through a partisan bill. Democrats need 60 votes to block Republican delaying tactics. While they control 60 ballots in the 100-seat Senate, Democratic lawmakers in Republican-leaning states would feel more comfortable if a Republican were on board, said Rogan Kersh, a public policy professor and associate dean at New York University.