Some bad news for Congressional Democrats who have concluded Republicans want nothing to do with a health care overhaul, leaving Democrats to enact legislation on their own. The headline on a Wednesday op-ed by Senator Ben Nelson, the centrist Nebraska Democrat, says it all: “Health Care Needs Bipartisan Solution.”

“We must continue working at this point to develop a bipartisan bill,” Mr. Nelson wrote in The Lincoln Journal Star. “In my view, bipartisan legislation translates to better legislation and incorporates broader policy solutions to today’s health care problems.”

Mr. Nelson’s position is certain to frustrate Democrats in Congress and the White House who believe that Republicans have made a political calculation to oppose any health care deal. If Democrats hope to get to 60 votes with only 59 of them in the Senate, Mr. Nelson’s support would seem crucial.

But his stance may also make Democrats turn more to the “reconciliation” procedural shortcut — a controversial gambit that would allow a simple majority vote — if they judge that Mr. Nelson, who often balks at party policy, will not vote for any bill that does not have at least some Republican backing.

The senator did leave himself some wiggle room with the “at this point” disclaimer and said the two parties should focus on areas where they agree, such as eliminating bans on insuring those with pre-existing conditions.

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