The "nay" vote tally is immaterial to a majority

Eriz Zorn gives a good explanation of the "present" votes Obama cast in the IL senate. It ran in the Tribune two weeks ago, but it's actually a reprint of a column he wrote back in early 2004, when Obama was vying for the nomination in the U.S. senate race--and the same attacks came up. From people who, like Sen. Clinton's people, are extremely unlikely to not understand the political tool of a "present" vote.