Forget the Specter nonsense, change the rules on filbusters and add one more seat to the committee and Specter is a nonfactor
Of course changing the rules on filibuster takes more votes than breaking a filibuster, if we can't accomplish the later there's no possible way to accomplish the former.
What it all boils down to is how many Dem Senators are running for re-election in red states in 2006. If we can get them to chase job security across the aisle the nominees will get through.