Lame-Duck Senators Could Swing Auto Vote

If the Senate votes next week on a $34 billion auto-industry bailout, 10 of the votes will come from lame-duck Republican senators—a potentially decisive margin. Having been ousted in November or planning to retire, they’ll have their say on a potentially historic bill without having to worry about the fallout. MSNBC looks at the potential dealbreakers.

One Republican, Elizabeth Dole, said her position wouldn’t affect her decision. “I will cast a responsible vote based on having been through four hours of hearings and a lot of reading,” said Dole, who voted against the $700 billion TARP plan. One Democratic senator on the banking panel said it's no big deal: “When you’re elected to the serve in the U.S. Senate, you’re elected to serve until your term is done." (More auto industry stories.)