…analysis at the Hotline:

Despite having to do without these 15 members of their Conference and again facing unanimous Dem opposition, Blunt’s operation won the vote with apparent ease. Indeed, Rep. Mark Foley (FL) — not coincidentally an early and vocal Blunt backer — gaveled down the vote just nine mintues after it was called, four more than the alloted time. As close observers of this House leadership know, four extra minutes is nothing. LoBiondo’s vote put the GOP over the top and Rep. Sue Kelly (NY) made 216.
When Blunt passed the bill in the pre-dawn hours of 12/19, he did so with a six vote cushion. Twas a tigher squeeze today, but a win’s a win. And this one didn’t make the MO’ian sweat. What, if anything, that portends for tomorrow’s vote remains to be seen. But for his part Blunt, speaking off the House floor after the vote, said he never put any stock in today’s vote being much of a predictor anyways.

Meanwhile, my understanding is that the Blunt team is going to have to withstand one last editorial hammer-blow from the right in the morning.