House Dem Leaders Begin Their Whip Count On Bailout Bill

House Democratic leaders told all their rank-and-file members to inform the office of Majority Whip Jim Clyburn how they would  vote on the bailout bill by 10 a.m. this morning, according to Democratic sources.

Majority Leader Steny H. Hoyer (D-Md.) is predicting that Democratic leaders will hold on to their 141 votes from Monday's bailout fight, and various groups within the Democratic Caucus — the New Democrats and the Blue Dogs — have begun their own head counts on members.

Hoyer also said he is not "twisting arms and cracking heads" to get votes.

"We have made it pretty clear ... that we believe this is very important  for the purposes of stabilizing the economy," Hoyer said of the pitch Democratic leaders are giving to their rank-and-file members.

Hoyer predicted that there would be "minimal" losses among conservative  Blue Dog Democrats.