She was the last Senate Democrat to declare her intention on the procedural vote on the health care overhaul bill but Blanche Lincoln ’s position from here on out likely will be the first to garner attention.

Facing a tough 2010 re-election fight back home, Lincoln, D-Ark., was one of three centrist Democrats who withheld their votes Saturday on starting the health care debate until shortly before the vote. However, by waiting until after both Sens. Ben Nelson of Nebraska and Mary L. Landrieu of Louisiana declared, Lincoln arguably became the decisive vote that put the Democratic bill over the top. Of the three, Lincoln is the only one up for re-election next year.

The Senate voted Saturday night, 60-39, to break a filibuster of the motion to proceed to the $848 billion measure, with the vote breaking down along party lines.

Though Democrats were loath to publicly criticize Lincoln after she took a tough vote for them, many said privately they did not understand why she put herself in that position.

A recent Zogby poll showed the two-term Democrat narrowly ahead of one possible challenger, Republican state Sen. Gilbert Baker, 41 percent to 39 percent. Against another possible GOP opponent, state Sen. Kim Hendren, Lincoln holds a more substantial 45 percent-29 percent lead.

However, when the poll surveyed respondents on how they would vote in a Lincoln-Baker race if Lincoln voted in favor of the health care bill, she trailed 37 percent to 49 percent. The poll also showed that 48 percent of likely voters said they would be less likely to back Lincoln’s re-election if she supports the health care bill.

Sen. John Cornyn of Texas, chairman of the National Republican Senatorial Campaign Committee — who has already aggressively targeted Lincoln for defeat next year — agreed Lincoln’s decision to make herself the last Democrat to commit was curious.

Cornyn warned that her role in the debate — and potential passage of a health care reform bill — would be a “problem” for her.

“She’s the 60th vote. It wouldn’t have happened without her,” Cornyn said. “So yeah, it’s a problem for her, don’t you think?”

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell , R-Ky., attempted to put even more pressure on vulnerable Democrats such as Lincoln by declaring that a vote to start the debate was a vote in favor of the bill.

“This bill right here costs $2.5 trillion the government doesn’t have and can’t afford,” McConnell said on the floor before the vote. “It imposes punishing taxes on almost everyone. It raises health insurance premiums on the 85 percent of Americans who already have health insurance. And if that were not bad enough, it slashes Medicare by half a trillion dollars. Anyone who votes ‘aye’ tonight ... is voting for all of these things.”

On Saturday afternoon, Lincoln attempted to strike back at both liberal and conservative critics on the Senate floor as she declared her intention to vote with the rest of the Senate Democratic Conference to proceed to the health care measure.

“This vote for or against a procedure that allows us to begin open debate on health care reform is nothing more and nothing less,” Lincoln said. “I’m not afraid of that debate. ... I will not allow my decision on this vote to be dictated by pressure from my political opponents nor the liberal interest groups from outside Arkansas that threaten me with their money and their political opposition.”