The AP (11/4, Espo) reports that Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) "signaled Tuesday that Congress may fail to meet a year-end deadline for passing healthcare legislation, leaving the measure's fate to the uncertainties of the 2010 election season." The statement was "a blow to the White House," according to the AP. In a "weekly closed-door meeting of rank-and-file Democrats," Sen. Reid said, "We're not going to be bound by any timelines. We need to do the best job we can for the American people." Still, "Reid's office revised his remarks" later, saying that Congress could "still send a bill to the president by Christmas."

ABC News (11/4, Karl) reports that "Senior Congressional Democrats told ABC News [Tuesday] it is highly unlikely that a healthcare reform bill will be completed this year." Citing "a senior Democratic leadership aide" and "two other key Congressional Democrats," ABC notes that the news "may come as an unwelcome surprise for the White House." The Washington Times (11/4, Haberkorn) calls the development "a blow to President Obama's top legislative priority."

Time (11/4, Tumulty) attributes the delay to Sen. Reid "struggling to line up the 60 votes that are needed to overcome a potential filibuster." On Tuesday Reid "vowed to pass a bill 'as expeditiously as we can,' which is another way of saying it will probably be slow going over the weeks to come."

According to Fox News

The Hill (11/4, Rushing) notes, "Asked point-blank if a healthcare bill was possible by the end of the year, Reid told reporters he is pushing for a vote 'as expeditiously as we can.'" With Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Reid "said their hands are tied until the CBO releases its cost estimate of the Senate bill."

CQ Today (11/4, Ota, subscription required) reports that "unresolved questions" to be addressed after the CBO report still include "how to pay for the overhaul, how the plan's costs will be tallied and what kind of subsidies should be provided to low-income uninsured Americans," according to Sen. Durbin. He also "blamed Republicans for stalling action and pointed to several other legislative matters that he said must be resolved."

AFP (11/4) notes that "pushing the fight to 2010 could complicate the delicate coalition-building needed to pass the bill because it is a midterm election year, when the entire House and one third of the Senate are up for reelection." Moreover, "Democrats face unique hurdles in the Senate, where they appear short of the 60 votes needed to overcome parliamentary delaying tactics and pass the bill."

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