After blasting U.S. Senator Blanche Lincoln (D-AR) yesterday saying “it doesn’t speak well” of Democrat Senators who did not “secure” sweetheart deals for their home states during his backroom health care discussions, Senate Democrat Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) was called in to clean up the mess and defend Lincoln to the Arkansas press.

In his post last evening, which notes Reid’s comments about Lincoln’s ineffectiveness, Arkansas News columnist John Brummet provided this startling update for his readers:

Harry Reid just called. I’d wager all I’ve got that Blanche Lincoln gave him the number.

Apparently Blanche alerted him that he needed to fix any misapprehensions. He wanted me to hear this from him: “Blanche has been, for me, and, I think, the country, and, for Arkansas, one of the most constructive senators we have on the health care issues.”…

“This is, of course, a big bill,” Reid said, “and it’s been difficult sometimes to get from here to there. But Blanche has been, throughout this process, one of senators most key to the process. I just wanted you to know that.”

And I suspect Blanche wanted him to want me, and you, to know that.

National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC) Press Secretary Amber Wilkerson Marchand issued the following response to Lincoln’s decision to call in the reinforcements from Washington to defend her:

“With all due respect, let’s get this straight: After providing her critical 60th vote to move Harry Reid’s bill forward, Blanche Lincoln announces she is planning to vote on final passage in favor of a costly and contentious bill that provides unequal special favors to people living in other states – special favors that will be paid for by families and seniors in Arkansas. Then, when concerns are raised, she calls in and seeks protection from the very party leader who is responsible for cutting these backroom deals at Arkansas’ expense in the first place. That is remarkable.

“Evidently, Senator Lincoln is not only unable to speak up and defend herself, but she’s unwilling to speak up and defend her constituents. Next November, Arkansans will have an opportunity to finally send Blanche Lincoln home from Washington.”