Democrats' 60-Seat Dream Denied

Democrats who marveled at Obama’s diabolical cunning in tapping Republican Sen. Judd Gregg as commerce secretary are getting a wakeup call. New Hampshire’s Democratic governor, John Lynch, won’t appoint a Democrat to Gregg’s Senate seat—a move that would give Obama’s party a filibuster-proof 60-seat majority if Al Franken’s win in Minnesota is certified. Gregg said today he won’t accept the appointment unless he’s replaced by a Republican: “I have made it clear to the Senate leadership on both sides of the aisle and to the governor that I would not leave the Senate if I felt my departure would cause a change in the makeup of the Senate,” he said in a statement. Lynch is indicating he’ll support Gregg’s wish.