The Senate voted 53 to 38 to end debate and allow a vote on the no-confidence motion itself. Since 60 votes were required to shut off the debate, or invoke cloture, supporters of the motion were lacking seven votes. But Mr. Gonzales’s critics could console themselves with the knowledge that they mustered a majority, and that several Republicans sided with them.
7 votes eh?
From Roll Call:
Not Voting - 7
Biden (D-DE)
Brownback (R-KS)
Obama (D-IL)
Coburn (R-OK)
Dodd (D-CT)
Johnson (D-SD)
McCain (R-AZ)
I'm not saying that all 7 of those absent would necessarily have voted in favor of the vote of no-confidence, but when 6 of those 7 are absent due to campaigning...well...
