The Hill is claiming Majority Leader Harry Reid has reached some sort of secret deal with Joe Lieberman (I-CT).

Sen. Joe Lieberman has reached a private understanding with Majority Leader Harry Reid that he will not block a final vote on healthcare reform, according to two sources briefed on the matter.
[...]
sources said Reid’s staff is telling liberal interest groups that Lieberman (Conn.) has assured Reid he will vote with Democrats in the necessary procedural vote to end debate, perhaps with intentions to change the bill.

With the progressive grassroots turning up the heat on Reid and Lieberman, having anonymous sources say everything will magically work out sounds a little too convenient. I will believe an agreement has been reached if and when Lieberman tones down the rhetoric and stops spewing outright lies about the public option.

Given Lieberman’s opposition to the public option, I’m highly concerned about any possible understanding that may have been reached. If Reid sells out the base again to appease Lieberman, he has much more to worry about than trying to get 60 votes for cloture. Remember, if Reid truly determined to deliver, there is nothing Lieberman can do to stop the passage of a real public option, available nationwide, on day one, with only 50 votes.

Update – Reid’s spokesman Jim Manley told TPMDC that no understanding has been reached with Lieberman on the issue of cloture.