I heard tonight that it was Specter's refusal to say how he would vote on the nuclear option that priompted Republican leaders to send deWine out to make the best deal he could. He must be dying, because he sure has no fear this week....and he really owes Bush.
The way I understood it was that it was President Bush who sent Dewine and Graham in to make the best compromise possible as Frist could not count on Specter for the 51st vote - Specter would not commit one way or another.