Numerous Lawmakers Face Pressure to Back Bill (CQPolitics.com)

By Alan K. Ota, CQ Staff Thu Oct 2, 9:42 PM ET There were meetings. There were more meetings. One caucus met and the other got ready to meet. There were phone calls. There was high-level intervention. Heading into Friday's expected vote on the Senate-passed financial bailout bill, House leaders said they were optimistic about getting enough votes for passage, but they were whipping as though it was still too close to call. Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., and Majority Leader Steny H. Hoyer, D-Md., said they won't bring the bill (HR 1424) to the floor unless they are sure that this time, they have the votes. "We are optimistic, very cautiously so, that we can get there," said Majority Whip James E. Clyburn, D-S.C. The Republican whip team seemed to focus on lower-ranking members of the leadership, friends of Minority Leader... [read full story]