A Hill source watching the back-and-forth on the omnibus bill closely reports, “It’s hard to say right now . . . If there weren’t any earmarks, I think we’d likely defeat the bill on cloture — they need sixty — but there are thirteen GOP appropriators and it will be difficult for them to oppose the omnibus. It’s an unwritten rule that appropriators don’t cross each other. For instance, see the vote on McCain’s amendment to strip the pork out of the bill, a great messaging opportunity for our side, but seven appropriators voted with the Democrats . . .

“We do have momentum on our side after the stimulus debate that united (most) GOP and the press has been hammering the waste in the bill, the hypocrisy of Obama on earmarks, and that hasn’t gone unnoticed. But if you forced me to guess, I’d say the bill squeaks through.”