While everyone's wondering whether Democrats will get behind President Obama's deal to extend the Bush-era tax cuts, here's another question worth pondering: Will Republicans support it?
It's not clear yet how firmly House Republicans back the deal hammered out by their party leaders, and, if President Obama is to pass this deal with a coalition of Republicans and only some Democrats, he'll need a strong whip count from the GOP, depending on how shaky Democratic support turns out to be.
Congresswoman Michele Bachmann, who leads the House Tea Party Caucus, said on Monday she's not sure whether or not Republicans will back it.
"I don't know that Republicans would necessarily go along with that vote. That would be a very hard vote to take," Bachmann said on Sean Hannity's radio show.
It's unclear, right now, just how many Republicans feel as Bachmann does.
"Predominantly the conference is supportive," a GOP aide said. "There are strong concerns about the unpaid-for extension of unemployment insurance...[but the] most important thing that Republicans are focused on is making sure no one has a tax increase on January 1."
A Democratic aide was less certain. "Has Boehner given the president a whip count?" the aide asked.