It's also not certain that 60 Democratic-controlled votes would back a health care plan, though under Senate rules adopted this year the plan would need only 51 if it's considered after Oct. 15.

Republicans maintained that 60 votes under Democratic control will make a difference.

"With just 59 votes, Senate Democrats in recent months have passed trillion-dollar spending bills, driven up America's debt, made every American taxpayer a shareholder in the auto industry and now want Washington to take over America's health care system. It's troubling to think about what they might now accomplish with 60 votes," said National Republican Senatorial Committee Chairman John Cornyn of Texas.

Where Franken could make a difference in the Senate is on procedural votes, the little-noticed votes on parliamentary maneuvers that keep legislation moving.

"The real impact of 60 is that it will help our ability to get to the underlying issues more quickly," said Sen. Thomas Carper, D-Del.

In a pinch, Senate leaders and the president also could lean heavily on Democrats to toe the party line, much as they did in February when they sought support for the $787 billion economic stimulus bill.

Even then, rounding up 60 votes is no sure thing.

Last week, for instance, Sen. Judd Gregg, R-N.H., tried to block an emergency war-spending bill because it contained money for a "cash for clunkers" program that would give consumers money for trading in gas guzzlers for new cars.

The vote was tense, and eventually Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid corralled 60 votes to defeat Gregg's effort. He needed four Republicans to do so, however, since Byrd and Kennedy were absent and Sen. Ben Nelson, D-Neb., sided with Republicans.

ON THE WEB

Minnesota Supreme Court decision in U.S. Senate case

A history of cloture

Party divisions in the Senate

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