10/14: SPR: South's Senate Finance members split along party lines on healthcare bill

Southern Political Report: South's Senate Finance members split along party lines on healthcare bill

"Whether or not health care reform passes has important political implications, not only for President Obama, but for lawmakers in both parties who will be facing the voters next year. For Obama and his fellow Democrats, passage of health care reform would fulfill one of his key campaign promises and give his party a major talking point for the 2010 elections.

"For the GOP, defeat of the bill would show the party’s grass roots activists that their strenuous -- at times raucous -- opposition to Obama’s health care proposals had some effect, and would demonstrate that their party still has clout in congress. And it would add energy to Republican efforts to retake control of congress, or at least increase the party’s strength in both the senate and house."

Repercussions of the vote could hit some senators hard, such as Sen. Lincoln of Arkansas, whose decision to support the measure could provide ammunition for the strong GOP effort to defeat her next year.

Also in the South:

ALABAMA: Democratic Party mistakenly appoints dead man to panel

ARKANSAS: State prison officials consider allowing some inmates to have e-mail

FLORIDA: Seven-term U.S. Rep. Robert Wexler is resigning

GEORGIA: Consumer advocate group says state lags in health care affordability

KENTUCKY: Hearing held to debate mountaintop mining

LOUISIANA: National ACORN embroiled with Louisiana branch

MISSISSIPPI: State now requires civil rights classes in schools

NORTH CAROLINA: "Ask Anything" with Gov. Beverly Perdue

SOUTH CAROLINA: Jobless benefits to be lost by 6,900 South Carolinians

TENNESSEE: GOP's Marsh wins special election to fill 62nd District House seat

VIRGINIA: Five of six delegate seats in Central Virginia open

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